With a second day affected by the forecast of adverse weather, the remainder of the finals for the Under 23 boat classes got underway. Based on the performances in the semifinals, we knew to expect some intense racing and the crews did not disappoint. While yesterday’s finals had been assisted by a tail wind, conditions were less favourable today, but the racing was no less exciting.

Lightweight women’s single sculls (BLW1x) – A-Final

Evangelia Anastasiadou from Greece was out to improve on her U23 silver medal last time so had a fast start, but it was Turkey’s Elis Ozbay who crossed the 500m marker first with Phaedra Van Der Molen going through in second. Anastasiadou was in third place. By halfway, the Greek sculler had moved in to the front of the pack, but only 0.22 seconds ahead of Ozbay so it was still wide open. It was all about the two scullers at the front of the pack with clear water then back to Italy’s Giulia Clerici. As the race came into the final quarter, the Greek sculler was starting to open up an advantage over the Turkish with Clerici still sitting in bronze medal position. Evangelia achieved her ambition of bettering last year’s silver and it was silver for Turkey this year with Italy taking the bronze.

Result: GRE, TUR, ITA, NED, GER, AUS

Lightweight men’s single sculls (BLM1x) – A-Final

Unfortunately, one of the favourites in this boat class, Tibo Vyvey of Belgium had been forced to withdraw which had opened the field up. It was Uruguay’s Felipe Kluver Ferreira, who has made the final at all three World Rowing Cups this season, who moved into the lead with the highest boat speed in the second quarter of the race. His Olympic experience was really starting to show as he started to increase his lead over Swiss sculler, Gian Struzina. Stephen Harris from Canada was sitting in bronze medal position, but made a big move in the third quarter to try and challenge for silver. There was no stopping Ferreira in the closing stages as he started to wind up for the line. Struzina had moved into a comfortable position for silver and Harris took the bronze with several lengths of clear water back to Argentina

Result: URU, SUI, CAN, ARG, GER

Women’s double sculls (BW2x) – A-Final

It was an explosive start out of the blocks from Canada, but it was the French pairing of Gaia Chiavini and Jeanne Roche leading as they approached 500m with Switzerland in second place and Romania third. In the second quarter, Switzerland increased their boat speed and overtook France with Great Britain moving into third place. Past the halfway point, Great Britain moved into second place with Romania taking third and France dropping back. Switzerland were still sitting at the front of the field, but only by five metres ahead of Great Britain. With 500m left to go, Romania had increased their boat speed and moved ahead of Great Britain and were really starting to challenge Switzerland. However, the Brits looked ominous and it was far from over. The remaining crews started to close in towards the line and whilst Romania took an undisputed gold, Canada had worked their way through the pack and it was confirmed they had taken silver over Great Britain.

Result: ROU, CAN, GBR, SUI, FRA, RSA

Men’s double sculls (BM2x) – Final

Germany and the Republic of Moldova were going bow-ball-for-bow-ball in the early stages of this race. At halfway, Belgium had despatched Germany and moved into silver medal position. The Irish double of Konan Pazzaia and Brian Colsh made a miraculous recovery from a crab and, in the final quarter of the race, they started to move and had worked their way into bronze medal position whilst Belgium had returned into the front of the field. It was Belgium at the line with clear water ahead of Moldova and Ireland taking bronze.

Result: BEL, MDA, IRL, GER, FRA, SUI

Women’s four (BW4-) – Final

Great Britain took the early lead despite the incredible stroke rate of the Romanians. By the first timing point, it was Great Britain ahead of the USA and Australia sitting in bronze medal position. GB were wanting to defend their title from 2021, but the Americans were not going to let them have it their own way and the USA had moved into the lead by halfway. The USA continued to increase their boat speed and it was looking like Great Britain would have a lot of work to do to try and close the gap. With 500m left to go, USA had almost opened up clear water ahead of Great Britain with a length then back to Australia. In the closing stages, the USA looked absolutely dominant and whilst Romania started to increase their boat speed, it was not enough to steal the silver from Great Britain or the bronze from Australia.

Result: USA, GBR, AUS, ROU, FRA, POL

Men’s four (BM4-) – Final

It looked like New Zealand might have a slight edge in the early stages, but it was Great Britain that was first to the 500m marker, sitting ahead of New Zealand with Ireland in a comfortable third. The Brits, looking to defend their title from 2021, with three 2021 U23 gold medallists, were looking really impressive, and New Zealand would have their work cut out to overhaul them. As the race came into the final quarter, GB looked like they had it sewn up, but the chants of “Kiwi” lifted their crew who put them under threat. GB sensed the challenge and responded to hold on to gold. Ireland took an impressive bronze medal.

Result: GBR, NZL, IRL, ROU, ITA, AUS

Lightweight women’s double sculls (BLW2x) – Final

Italy got off to a very quick start but Germany was also very strong off the start and by the first timing point, it was Germany at the front of the field with Italy in second place and Switzerland in bronze medal position. The battle for gold was intense with just 4 metres between Germany and Italy in the second quarter of the race. Poland had overhauled Switzerland to move into a comfortable third place by halfway. In the third quarter of the race, Italy had established almost a length lead over the young German crew and the home crowds were going wild! In the closing stages, it was looking like the medals were set. Poland was trying to close the gap to Germany, but it was too late.

Result: ITA, GER, POL, SUI, GBR, HUN

Men’s quadruple sculls (BM4x) – Final

With the Italian supporters already fired up after their win in the lightweight women’s double sculls, they were very pleased to see their crew establish the early lead in this boat class. Germany was sitting in second place, and keeping Italy under pressure. There was then very little between the Netherlands, Czech Republic and New Zealand, so it was all to play for to see who would take bronze. As the noise started to increase, so did the boat speed as the crews charged towards the line. Italy was maintaining the lead, but Germany was now really threatening them. Italy had to respond. The noise of the crowds lifted the home nation, and kept them in gold medal position. The crowds went wild. Germany took silver and the battle for bronze was won by New Zealand.

Result: ITA, GER, NZL, CZE, NED, LTU

Lightweight men’s double sculls (BLM2x) – Final

Could Italy take a third consecutive gold? It was France, Italy and Spain who had the best starts and in the early stages, Spain had taken the lead with nothing between France and Italy, then Ireland in fourth. At halfway, Spain was still in the lead, but it certainly wasn’t decided, Italy was just narrowly behind and Ireland had put on a burst too. In the third quarter, Ireland moved into second place and Italy had moved into the front of the field. Ireland was really starting to challenge Italy in the final quarter of the race, but Italy seemed to be able to respond. With a boost from the supporters again, Italy increased their boat speed and opened up clear water ahead of Ireland. Meanwhile, France had moved into bronze medal position.

Result: ITA, IRL, FRA, TUR, ESP, NED

Women’s eight (BW8+) – Final

Defending U23 Champions USA took the early lead with Great Britain, Italy and Germany hot on their tails. USA was first to the 500m marker with Great Britain second and then Germany. The positions remained unchanged at 1,000m, but Italy and Romania were still in the mix too. Approaching 1,500m, the USA had established clear water ahead of Great Britain and whilst the Brits looked comfortable for silver, the bronze medal was still up for grabs. Nobody could touch the USA or Great Britain, but the remaining crews were all in a line for the bronze. Germany was eventually announced as taking the medal. What a finish!

Result: USA, GBR, GER, NED, ITA, ROU

Men’s single sculls (BM1x) – Final

Isaiah Harrison of the USA led the race out, and was first to 500m, just 0.82 seconds ahead of Italy’s Gennaro di Mauro. There was very little to choose between Australia and Germany for third place. By 1,000m, Jonas Gelsen had moved into second place and Harrison of the USA, who was sculling at 28 strokes per minute, was starting to be challenged. In the third quarter of the lead, Gelsen moved into the lead; his higher rating was starting to pay off and he quickly established half a boat length lead over Harrison. Meanwhile, Emil Neykov of Bulgaria had moved into bronze medal position, but it was from over, Australia’s Cormac Kennedy-Leverett was challenging! As the “USA” chants started in the stands, what had Harrison got left in the tank? Gelsen took the gold and Harrison took silver ahead of reigning champion Neykov.

Result: GER, USA, BUL, AUS, FRA, ITA

Women’s single sculls (BW1x) – Final

This was all set to be a huge battle with such a high-quality field. Germany’s Alexandra Foester took the early lead ahead of Switzerland’s Aurelia-Maxima Janzen with Ireland’s Alison Bergin in third. Lauren Henry of Great Britain certainly wasn’t out of medal contention, nor Greece’s Dimitra Eleni Kontou. Foester had established a comfortable lead by halfway, and it looked unlikely that anyone could catch her. Meanwhile, Janzen, with her macon blades, was maintaining her silver medal position despite a challenge from the Irish sculler Bergin.

Result: GER, SUI, IRL, GBR, GRE, LTU

Men’s eight (BM8+) – Final

Great Britain was on a mission to defend their title in this boat class, but it was Australia that had the fastest start. Great Britain was second fastest off the start but eventually moved into the lead ahead of Australia with the USA in third. The GB crew was looking so impressive and started to walk away and establish three quarters of a length lead over Australia in the third quarter of the course. The USA was moving with them and starting to really challenge. The British looked imperious in the closing stages of the race, whilst the USA moved in front of Australia to take silver.

Result: GBR, USA, AUS, GER, POL, ROU

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World Rowing Under 23 Championships concludes with epic finals

Five World U19 Championship best times broken in Varese during A-Finals

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