Image Credit: World Rowing
2024, c’était magnifique. The international racing was dominated by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, set against the picturesque backdrop of the magical city of Paris. Who could forget Ollie Zeidler storming to victory in the men’s single scull, or the Sinkovic brothers snatching gold in a script only Aaron Sorkin could write? As for the Flying Dutchmen, they were out of this world. Their quad of Lennart van Lierop, Finn Florijn, Tone Wieten, and Koen Metsemakers produced a sculling masterpiece, something Van Gogh himself would have been proud to illustrate as his own.
However, the circus must roll on. With just two World Rowing Cups (in Varese and Lucerne) and a World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, 2025 is a unique year for rowing. The year after the Olympics and Paralympics, there is always a change in the guard. Some athletes go, some new stars emerge, while others rest and ponder their movements ahead of the road to LA 2028.
Ahead of this exciting calendar year, let’s dive deeper on some of the international men’s sweep crews you should be watching.
Croatia Men’s Coxless Four
Fun and Frisky. It was confirmed at The Head of The Charles Regatta that Martin and Valent Sinković would once again be changing boat classes. Next year, the three-time Olympic gold medallists will move into a coxless four, a boat they haven’t raced internationally in. It is rumoured that the brothers will be teaming up with Croatia’s other famous sibling pairing, the Lončarićs, who, at only age 23, placed 12th in Paris in the men’s double sculls. After a historic year for the United States in this boat class, winning for the first time since 1960, it remains to be seen if they’d like to lay the foundations of a dynasty in the lead-up to a home Olympic Games or reshuffle their deck of cards. Regardless, I can’t wait to watch the Croatians throw the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons and have a blast while doing it.
Great Britain Men’s Eight
Eight years ago, after GB won this event under the watchful eye of Christ The Redeemer, a large period of change was brewing at Caversham. In the run-up to Tokyo, only 20% of those who raced at Rio returned to the squad, and a transformation of the talent training at Caversham ensued. At the World Rowing Championships in Florida, the top boat (the four) could only muster a bronze medal, while the eight finished in the B-final, seventh overall. GB would inevitably build on this result, culminating with a bronze medal in Toyko. Why this trip down memory lane, I hear you ask. Well, Great Britain had been odds on favourite for gold, winning the two previous World Rowing Championships and all their racing during 2024. One of two things will happen this year. GB will either continue to stack this crew and head to Shanghai, eyeing up another world title, or we’re about to see a whole new project come together, much like we did after Rio. The big difference now is that the talent pipeline is in significantly better shape than eight years ago.
Australia
Yes, the entire national sweep team. The Australian men left Paris deflated and devoid of medals. Only their bronze medal-winning women’s pair returned down under with silverware to show for their efforts. It is clear that a rebuild and a restart are needed, and readers can rest assured that this is well underway. Back in Tokyo, they dominated the coxless fours, winning gold in both the men’s and women’s events. The build-up to this regatta was awesome for the Australians. Highlights include coming over to Henley Royal Regatta, defeating the Brits on home water in The Grand Challenge Cup before setting a record time in the final to beat Romania. What’s significant about this is that three of this crew would win Olympic gold three years later. Australia have a wonderful ability to create generational oarsmen and we’re just itching to see the next batch. With such a condensed racing schedule this year (two World Rowing Cups in the space of 14 days), we can likely expect Australia to travel en-masse to these and rest assured, they won’t just be there to take part.
United States Men’s Four
I touched on this crew earlier, but they deserve their own mention. What they did in Paris was special for the four athletes and for United States men’s rowing more broadly. It had been 20 years since they last won a gold medal at the Olympics, and this one felt different. This could be a pivotal three and half years for US Rowing. A home Olympic Games in Los Angeles is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but the United States must buckle up if it is to deliver more gold medals on the waters of Marine Stadium in Long Beach. A lot of hype and flimflam followed their men’s eight in the build-up to Paris. They stormed to victory at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta and won their heat in Paris but when it all came down to the five and a half minutes in the final, they weren’t able to outclass the Brits and the Dutch, ultimately settling for silver. Since Great Britain in 2016, no one has been able to establish themselves as a dominant force in the coxless four. One could argue that the Australians from 2017 to 2021 did a decent job, but they failed to medal at the 2019 World Rowing Championships. For America to win the eight on home water would be sensational and a moment rightly celebrated. However, to build upon Paris, prioritise the four and go back-to-back in three years’ time – that would write them into the history books.
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