Image Credit: World Rowing
Entries: 11
The rowing world is about to witness history in the making as the mixed double makes its debut at the World Rowing Championships. This groundbreaking event represents the ultimate test of teamwork and coordination, bringing together male and female athletes in what should be one of the most exciting additions to the international rowing calendar. With 11 crews entered and no one having raced internationally in this format before, the stage is set for an unpredictable and thrilling competition that I hope becomes a staple on the international rowing scene.
The Netherlands enters as my crew to beat, combining the exceptional talents of Roos de Jong and Melvin Twellaar. De Jong brings impressive recent form with a second-place finish in Varese, a commanding victory at the European Rowing Championships, and a silver medal in the women’s quad at Paris. Twellaar’s credentials are equally stellar: a Paris silver medalist in the double and Tokyo silver medalist, with a strong sixth-place showing in Varese’s single sculls. This combination of proven international success and complementary skills makes them the standout crew.
Ireland presents a formidable challenge with the legendary Fintan McCarthy partnering Maggie Cremen. McCarthy’s pedigree speaks for itself: a two-time Olympic champion and multiple world champion in the lightweight men’s double, with recent podium finishes including third at Lucerne and the European Rowing Championships in the men’s openweight double. Cremen showed her form this year, with a fourth place in the women’s double at the European Rowing Championships and fifth in the lightweight women’s double in Paris last year. I am really excited to see what these *former* mighty lighties can do together.
Romania rounds out the medal contenders with the intriguing partnership of Andrei Sebastian Cornea and Ioana Madalina Cornea. Andrei brings Olympic gold from Paris and European Rowing Championship silver, while Ioana raced in the women’s quad in Paris. Their shared surname could provide the synchronisation crucial in mixed boat racing.
Germany cannot be overlooked with Pia Greiten and Felix Heinrich. Greiten has been consistently excellent this season, with a first in Lucerne, second in Varese, and European Rowing Championship silver in the women’s quad, following up her bronze at Paris last summer. Heinrich adds solid credentials, with fourth place in Lucerne and fifth at the European Rowing Championships in the men’s quad.
Switzerland brings an interesting dynamic with Celia Dupre transitioning to the women’s pair this year and Raphael Ahumada, who was fourth in Paris in the lightweight men’s double and won the men’s openweight double at Varese this year.
China will have the crowd behind them with Yunxia Chen and Biashun Liu. Chen’s double victories at Varese and Lucerne in the women’s double and her Paris quad experience provide a strong foundation. Racing on home water in Shanghai could provide the extra motivation to spring a surprise.
Uzbekistan presents an intriguing combination with Anna Prakaten, a Tokyo silver medalist, partnered with Dilshodjon Khudoyberdiev.
New Zealand fields Kathryn Glen and Ben Mason, who both showed exciting form at the World Rowing Cups earlier this summer. Glen had a strong start to the international rowing year with a third-place finish in Varese in the women’s double, while Mason matched that result with his own third in Varese, backed by a strong second-place showing in Lucerne. Their parallel recent performances suggest a partnership that could gel well in the mixed format.
USA presents an intriguing combination of experience and fresh talent with Jacob Plihal and Isa Darvin. Olympian Plihal brings solid international credentials, following a third place in Lucerne in the men’s quad and an impressive second place in Varese’s competitive single sculls field. Darvin is making her international debut, adding an element of unpredictability.
Italy combines rising talent with seasoned experience through Alice Gnatta and Niels Torre. Gnatta brings versatility, having competed across multiple boat classes, including eighth at the U23 World Rowing Championship in the women’s double this year, fifth in the women’s quad at Varese, and sixth in Paris in the women’s eight. Torre adds proven championship pedigree with his second place in Varese, fourth at the European Rowing Championships, and an impressive bronze at the 2024 World Rowing Championships in the lightweight men’s single. This blend of Gnatta’s adaptability and Torre’s recent medal-winning form could prove formidable.
Prediction
The Netherlands will claim the inaugural Mix2x World Rowing Championship title, the mighty Irish lighties will take silver, and Romania will claim the bronze.
