Image Credit: World Rowing
After the Olympic Games, the rowing world can take a deep breath. However, it can’t be held for long as the ‘Mega Worlds’ heads to St Catharines, Canada. Between 18th – 23rd August, the U23 championships will combine with U19s and the senior events not contested in Paris. The eyes of the sport head west to Ontario and amongst the competitors we’ll find the next generation of talent lining up on a start line in Los Angeles and Brisbane.
Germany
15 crews will contest this field but all eyes will be on Germany. Last year’s champions are back but Ole Hanack is the sole returner from last year’s victorious crew. However, Hanack is backed up by Oliver Holtz and Tom Graenitz who both won silver in this event in 2022. Finally, this trio are joined by Til Schindelhauer who makes his international debut. In the last four championships, Germany have left with a medal on three occasions, never finishing lower than second and as a result, they will once again be one of, if not the, favourite for the 2024 title.
Great Britain
In the absence of The Netherlands and Australia, Britain were the next best-performing crew at last year’s championships. The British are sending a young quartet to Ontario. Harry Ruinet, Nathaniel Gauden and Elliott Donovan-Davies were all born in 2005 but that doesn’t hinder the international experience they can bring to Canada. The former two athletes both comprised half of the British quad that won a silver medal at last year’s U19 world championships in Paris and it speaks volumes that they can make the step up to the next level after just one year. They’re joined by Edinburgh University’s Josh Matthews who placed sixth in the A-Final of the U19 quad in 2022.
Italy
Italy were also in the mix in last year’s A-Final. They too have just one returner in the form of their stroke, Andrea Pazzagli. The 21-year-old has only ever raced quads on the international stage and made his senior debut this year, in Italy’s second quad at World Rowing Cup I in Varese where he won the B-Final alongside Marco Selva and Leonardo Tedoldi. The fourth member of this crew is Luca Enea Mulas who raced to 15th overall in the double last year. This means that every member of Italy’s crew has raced at this level and will be a formidable opponent in St Catharines.
New Zealand
While the Kiwis were 13th overall last year in Plovdiv, they were sixth in this event in 2019 and bronze medalists in 2022. For Jack Pearson and Angus Kenny, this is their first crack at rowing on an international stage but Evan Williams returns from last year’s quartet. They’re joined by the former lightweight sculler Finlay Hamill who won a silver medal in the U23 lightweight men’s single scull before stepping up a level and racing and the senior world championships where he finished at the back end of the B-Final
Czechia
Three years ago, Czechia won this event and they haven’t medaled since. After an off-year 12 months ago, Czechia will be looking to bounce back from an eight-placed finish in Plovdiv. Three of this crew are back to make amends. Michal Zindulka, Jan Cizek and Martin Jezek will be joined by Vit Baldinus. This will be the 22-year-old’s first foray into sculling after racing two eights and a coxless four during three previous U23 world championships and Baldinus will be hoping to make it into the A-Final on his fourth attempt at trying.
Prediction
Germany and Italy fighting it out for the top spot with the Germans taking the win once again.
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