"VAN" (Sports Desk - 02.08.2026) :: Day two of the 2026 European Rowing Championships on Italy’s Lago di Varese saw 13 new European Champions crowned. With warm waters and a steady tailwind, several European Championship Best Times were also smashed.
A total of 17 nations have earned a place in the medal standings so far, with Germany currently sitting at the top after the first day of finals, having won an impressive three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. Great Britain has matched the number of golds won by Germany so far, but hasn’t won any others yet.
Germany was in fact the first nation to win gold at the Championships when their PR2 mixed double scull held off an incredible final sprint from Ukraine. Germany’s other golds came later in the session, including the last race of the day, the lightweight men’s pair in which they battled with Georgia all of the way.
Great Britain’s three golds came all in a row. The first of which was the PR3 mixed four, which, despite a fast start from the host nation, the Brits came through to win and set a new European Championship Best Time. The British women’s four also took gold, closely followed by the men’s four – which saw a GB development boat not only win, but also set a new European Championship Best Time.
Arguably one of the stand-out races of the day was the women’s quadruple scull, which saw a fast start from Romania, but then Switzerland had a flying final quarter of the race to move from third to take gold. The men’s quad was the second of Germany’s gold medals, and with Poland taking silver, the Croatian boat featuring the infamous Damir Martin claimed bronze.
Romania showed their strength in sweep by winning both the women’s and the men’s pairs. The women beat the European Championships Best Time that they had set at last year’s European Championships, Simona Radis being the constant in the boat. Both she and Adriana Adam will race again tomorrow in the women’s eight, hoping to add to the medal tally.
There was double delight for host nation Italy towards the end of the session when both their lightweight men’s and women’s double sculls claimed victory.
The remaining 2026 European titles will be decided tomorrow. Racing starts at 08:30 CEST, with the medal finals from 11:05. Tomorrow’s programme will include the first appearance of the mixed double sculls with heats in the morning, and their finals at the end of the session, just before the final of the mixed eight.
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