- Forecast adverse weather conditions for the weekend in Duisburg, Germany, forced a change in schedule for day 2 of the 2026 World Rowing Under 23 Championships. All the semifinals took place on Friday, alongside finals C and D, reserving the finals A and B for Saturday and Sunday.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 25.07.2026) :: Conditions were calmer and faster than on Thursday, and the racing was close across the board – with very little splitting the six boats making it through to most of the finals.
The majority of the pre-event favourites continue in the competition, but there was disappointment for reigning under 19 women’s single sculls world champion Varvara Lykomitrou (GRE). The 19-year-old, who also won the under 23 women’s double sculls in Poznan last year, faded badly in the second half of her under 23 single sculls semifinal, which was won by 2025 junior silver medallist Esther Fuerte (ESP).
Greece will still have plenty of crews to cheer on in the A-finals, however. In particular, their women’s double sculls crew of Dimitra Kontou and Elena Diavati, and men’s pair of Alexandros Chatziavgoustidis and Andreas Bourkas, posted the fastest times from the semifinals.
It was also a solid day for Portugal, as their men’s double sculls, men’s single sculler Diogo Goncalves and lightweight men’s single sculler Joao Veloso all won their semifinals.
Great Britain was another nation with several semifinal wins: their men’s pair, women’s and men’s fours, and men’s quadruple sculls crews secured places in the medal races with assured performances.
South Africa are celebrating their first-ever World Rowing Under 23 Championships A-finalists in the men’s and women’s coxless fours, with both boats reaching the last six in their respective events. It is the first time the nation has ever had an under 23 women’s four, while the best previous result for a South African under 23 men’s four was eighth in 2006.
The men’s fours were also notable for the closest finish of the day, as Romania came through the pack from fifth to third to deny Germany a place in the final. Romania posted a split of 1:27.21 for the last 500m of their race, the fastest quarter by any boat except for Australia in the other semifinal – who clocked 1:26.87 to 500m.
Racing in Duisburg continues on Saturday with B-finals from 09:05 CEST, and the first 10 A-finals from 10:00 CEST. There will also be heats of the under 23 mixed double sculls – the first time this event has been contested at a World Rowing Under 23 Championships – in the afternoon.
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