~ 64 nations take to the Bosbaan as the Netherlands hosts the World Rowing Championships for the first time since 2014
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 25.08.2026) :: The world’s best rowers returned to the Netherlands on Monday as the 2026 World Rowing Championships got underway on the Bosbaan in Amsterdam. It is the first time since 2014 that the Netherlands has hosted a World Rowing event, and the championships have attracted entries from 64 nations – including two making their senior World Rowing Championships debuts, Somalia and Syria.
Racing began with a short programme of six events on Monday afternoon, with the competition as fierce as the stiff headwind blowing down the course.
The host nation had a strong start with all four of their crews racing on Monday progressing to the next round, and three winning their heats. The heat wins included comfortable victories for the championships’ poster girls, women’s double sculls defending champions Roos de Jong and Benthe Boonstra, as well as the men’s double scull of Melvin Twellaar and Simon van Dorp.
Last time the Bosbaan hosted the World Rowing Championships, in 2014, Martin and Valent Sinkovic (CRO) went away with victory in the men’s double sculls and the world best time (5:59.72), which still stands. Back in the double for the 2026 season, the Sinkovics posted the fastest time of the day to win their heat and show they remain a threat in this packed event.
Romania’s men’s and women’s pairs both progressed to the semifinals with the fastest times of the day. In the men’s event, 2025 champions New Zealand also progressed.
2026 European champion Mariia Zhovner (AIN1) was over 10 seconds faster than anyone else in the lightweight women’s single sculls field – but Kenia Lechuga (MEX), who impressed in the World Rowing Cup season this year, was faster to 500m and may have conserved energy for Wednesday’s semifinals.
Racing at the 2026 World Rowing Championships continues on Tuesday from 13:05 CEST, with heats in eight more events, as well as the men’s double sculls quarterfinals. A planned break in racing has been removed in anticipation of an adverse weather forecast on Tuesday evening.
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