Image Credit: Benedict Tufnell/British Rowing
Featuring two of the strongest current junior athletes in the British Programme, both of whom are competing at the U19 World Rowing Championships for their third time this year, the GB pair could well be one of the strongest crews in Lithuania this year. Hailing from the same school, and having rowed and won some of the most prestigious competitions in the world together in the same crew, this crew heads into this regatta looking to take home the gold, with an advantage regarding one of the biggest weaknesses of many selected national crews – time spent together.
Alp Karadogan – St Paul’s School (J18)
Without a doubt, Alp Karadogan is, and will remain for a while, the most recognisable name in British junior rowing. From his debut in the Henley Royal Regatta-winning St Paul’s School first eight back when he was only 15, Karadogan’s four-year long career at St Paul’s has included multiple wins at practically every race available: the Schools’ Head of the River, National Schools’ Regatta, Henley Royal Regatta and Head of the Charles, alongside multiple records broken for his ergo performances in the 2k and 5k. This will be Karadogan’s third and final U19 World Rowing Championships, having competed in the eight to take gold back in Paris in 2023, following it up with a silver in the four last year in Canada. All eyes will be on what will surely be an unbelievable pairs race, as Karadogan and his teammate, Patrick Wild, take on the rest of the world in the grand finale of one of the most impressive junior rowing careers of all time.
Patrick Wild – St Paul’s School (J18)
Patrick Wild is the other key member of this British pair racing in Lithuania this summer, and is by no means a force to be taken lightly. Already boasting experience as an international stroke man, Wild, along with bowman Karadogan, made up the stern pair of the GB four that came second at the U19 World Rowing Championships last year, as well as stroking the GB pair at Paris the year before at only 16 years old. With nearly the same achievements as his bowman, including wins at some of the most prestigious events in the world, including Henley Royal Regatta and the Head of the Charles Regatta, Wild will be looking to set the rhythm and lead this pair to victory, as arguably the strongest stroke-side junior rower this year.
