Entries: Ten
With reigning champion Grace Sypher not defending her title, the lightweight women’s single at the U23 World Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland presents a wide-open field where several athletes will be vying to claim their first U23 World Championship.
Italy’s Melissa Schincariol enters as one of the top contenders, having demonstrated strong form in the lightweight single with a fifth-place finish at this year’s World Cup in Varese. The Italian also brings valuable championship experience, having won the Junior World Rowing Championships in the quadruple sculls in 2024.
Switzerland’s Laura Villiger represents another serious medal threat, showing consistent performances across multiple competitions this season. Her 11th place at World Cup Lucerne and fifth at the 2024 U23 European Rowing Championships in the lightweight women’s single, along with a tenth-place finish at last year’s U23 World Rowing Championships, shows she can compete at the highest level.
Germany’s Ayse Guenduez brings proven U23 experience to the field, having claimed silver in the lightweight women’s double sculls in 2022.
Greece’s Gavriela Lioliou also enters with momentum after earning bronze in the women’s double sculls at this year’s U23 European Rowing Championships and gold at the U19 level.
South Africa’s Chloe Cresswell showed her potential with a fifth-place finish in this event at the 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships and will be looking to step onto the podium this time. Ireland’s Sophia Monahan, who placed sixth in the lightweight women’s double sculls at last year’s U23 World Rowing Championships, makes the transition to the single for this championship.
The field also includes several athletes making their U23 debut, including Algeria’s Lala Sabria Boukhous and Morocco’s Sarah Ghazaz, who could provide surprises in a championship race without a clear favorite. Indonesia’s Mutiara Putri and Zimbabwe’s Done Erasmus round out the international field, both bringing previous U23 experience.
Prediction:
I predict Melissa Schincariol (ITA) to claim gold, Ayse Guenduez (GER) to take silver, and Laura Villiger (SUI) to finish off the podium with bronze.
