10 August 2024

World Rowing announces that St. Catharines, Canada, will be host to the 2024 World Rowing Senior, Under-23 and Under-19 Championships as one regatta. A press release reads:

For the first time since 2016, the three events will be combined in one – with the World Rowing Senior Championships, for non-Olympic and non-Paralympic boat classes, joining the traditional flagship event for the Under-23 and Under-19 athletes. In total, 1,183 athletes will be competing at the historic Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course, hosting a World Rowing event for the first time since the World Rowing Championships in 1999.

And despite competing at the Olympic Games a few days ago, a few Olympic medallists have decided to continue their quest for medals in Canada. Two-time Olympic Champion in the lightweight men’s double sculls, Ireland’s Paul O’Donovan is entered in the single sculls and will be the heavy favourite to win the event, with Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Antonios Papakonstantinou of Greece looking to be his main challenger. Watch out too for Sid Ali Boudina of Algeria, Alexis Lopez Garcia of Mexico or Hin Chun Chiu of Hong Kong China, who all competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

In the lightweight women’s single sculls, both the Olympic silver and bronze medal winners in the lightweight double in Paris will face off again – with Zoi Fitsiou of Greece challenging Ionela Cozmiuc of Romania, who announced in Paris that this will be her last international event. A few other names stand out – such as Siobhán McCrohan of Ireland or Aurelie Morizot of France, who both won World Cups earlier this year in that boat class.

The World Rowing Under-23 Championships are highlighted by the reigning World Champions in the lightweight women’s double sculls from Greece, defending their title, with Dimitra Kontou having won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. The last two World Rowing Under-23 Champions in the women’s single sculls – who just both competed in the B-Final at the Olympics – will square off again, and the battle between Aurelia-Maxima Janzen of Switzerland and Alexandra Föster of Germany promises to be intense.

The World Rowing Under-19 Championships will see a few familiar faces competing on Rowing’s biggest stage. Reigning World Champion in the women’s single sculls, Bianca Camelia Ifteni of Romania will look to defend her title in St. Catharines. Winner of the silver medal last year at only 16 years of age, Greece’s Panagiotis Makrygiannis will attempt to upgrade the colour of his medal. For most of the athletes, it will be their first international event, and the first step towards their rowing career.

The competition starts on Sunday, 18 August. The first medal races will be held on Thursday, 22 August. All eight days of the competition will be livestreamed on worldrowing.com

For the full programme, click here

For the full list of entries, click here