Image Credit: World Rowing
Germany and Great Britain emerged as the most successful nations at this year’s U23 World Rowing Championships, claiming five silvers + five bronzes and four golds, respectively. Held on the historic Poznan course, racing was fast and furious, indicative of a sport in rude health across this particular age group. As the last stepping stone to senior-level competition, many of these athletes may now be eyeing a transition to their country’s top teams with the LA Olympic Games still three years away.
Singles
The result in the women’s single scull appeared clear the moment the entry list was released, but Switzerland’s Aurelia-Maxima Katharina Janzen still had to turn up and perform. The Paris Olympian blew the field away, finishing ten seconds clear of Greece’s Eleni Diavati (who had a brilliant regatta to win silver despite only turning 18 a week or so before the regatta began). Romy Cantwell of Australia won bronze, but this one was all about Katharina Janzen, who was unstoppable in winning her third age-group singles title.
The men’s racing was somewhat more surprising. Turkey’s Cevdet Ege Mutlu took the win by nearly three seconds, which in isolation is not altogether shocking – he was seventh overall at the 2025 European Rowing Championships, so is a sculler with evident pedigree. The absence in the A-final of Belgium’s Aaron Andries – who won both his heat and quarterfinal, the latter in the fastest time across the field – was down to an ill-judged semifinal. There will have been little consolation for the young Belgian in winning the B-final comfortably. Germany’s Oliver Holtz won silver, and Diogo Concalves of Portugal improved on last year’s standings by two places to claim bronze.
Quads
Great Britain were untouchable on the women’s side, dominating both their heat and final to claim a historic gold. With Reading University scullers Ellie Cooke and Finnola Stratton in the stern alongside the richly talented Poppy Baker at two and young Liv Cheesmur in the bows (an athlete who is now a three-time age-group world medallist and is widely regarded as one of her country’s hottest prospects), this combination proved unstoppable. With their rich heritage in quad sculling, Germany’s silver will have been pleasing to a national rowing federation sewing the seeds of recovery after a shaky half-decade. Poland finished third.
For the men, all eyes were on Poland and Great Britain, who won their respective semifinals. In the end, neither were able to overcome a Czechia crew who surged through in the final 500m to claim a famous win. GB fell off the podium entirely, leaving Poland to take silver and a resurgent German crew to secure bronze. The latter’s consistency in sculling at this age group is truly remarkable.
Coxless Fours
The coxless fours were ripe for fierce contests. Great Britain’s flagship women’s sweep boat – stroked by holder Jessie Martin – took gold in impressive style, with Romania and New Zealand trailing in their wake. Three of the four athletes in the winning British boat currently row in the USA, underlining that nation’s credentials as the best breeding ground for elite collegiate talent.
On the men’s side, Great Britain were again on the wrong end of a disappointing margin, finishing fourth and just 0.12 seconds off the podium. The United States of America took the win in a victory that shows the seriousness with which Josy Verdonkschot and his coaching team are now taking the coxless four. Spain got the boys back together from the crew that won the coxless four at the 2021 U19 World Rowing Championships to claim silver whilst Romania, whose rapid ascension to the top of the global rowing pyramid is showing no signs of slowing down, won bronze.
Eights
Great Britain retained both of their titles in imperious fashion and extended their winning run in the men’s eight to six years. Dipping below 5:30, the British men’s crew were a length clear of a field that also contained superb units from New Zealand, Germany and Australia. New Zealand took silver in a result that will please their federation after a quieter men’s sweep period following their Olympic gold in 2021, whilst the Germans clearly have superb quality coming through their ranks to fill up spots in the Deutschland Achter.
On the women’s side, Great Britain were again relatively untroubled, separating themselves from the field and allowing the USA, Canada and Germany to duke it out for the minor medals. The transatlantic cousins claimed the remaining podium spots, leaving onlookers in no doubt as to who the dominant force in U23 sweep rowing remains.
