"VAN" (Sports Desk - 24.07.2025) :: The 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships kicked off on Wednesday afternoon in Poznan, Poland, with plenty of tight racing in drizzly conditions.
The day began with two preliminary races in the PR3 Under 23 Single Sculls, the first time Para rowers have competed at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships. Paralympian Dariia Kotyk of Ukraine won the women’s race, ahead of the young Australian Isobel Egan. In the men’s race, it was Egan’s compatriot Sam Stunell who came out comfortably ahead of the field. They race for the first Para rowing Under 23 medals on Saturday.
The regatta marks the first time the new World Rowing progression system has been used at a World Rowing Under 23 Championships. With crews needing to finish in the top two, or post one of the fastest losing times, to progress to the next round, racing was tight.
The closest finish was heat 2 of the lightweight men’s single sculls, where Cosmo Hondrogen (USA) managed to claim second by 0.02 seconds ahead of Germany’s Mats Winkels. In heat 2 of the lightweight women’s single sculls, Ireland’s Sophia Monahan took second by 0.09 seconds ahead of third-placed Ayse Guenduez (Germany). Both Winkels and Guenduez made it through to the final on time.
Greece were the quickest in both the men’s and women’s double sculls, with the experience of their Olympic bronze medallist Dimitra Kontou showing as she and partner Varvara Lykomitrou took the win in heat 2 of the women’s event – although hosts Poland also impressed, winning heat 1 in a time only slightly slower than the Greeks’.
While rowing powerhouse Great Britain had a disappointing day in the small boats, with their men’s and women’s double sculls and women’s pairs crews all missing out on progression to the A-finals or semifinals, their men’s and women’s fours both looked dominant in posting the fastest times of the events.
Racing continues on Thursday with the heats of the remaining events, beginning at 10:00 CEST with the Under 23 Women’s Single Sculls.
Responses
Leave your comment