Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships draws large international crowd

The 2022 Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships (or CIRCs, as it is commonly known amongst locals) took place last Sunday. While the event is normally hosted just outside Toronto, Canada, the ongoing global pandemic pushed this edition online, allowing competitors from around the world to take part. The event was also a sanctioned event for the 2022 World Rowing Indoor Championships, which will take place 25-26 February, also in a virtual format.

A staggering 22 nations were represented across 570 entries, from New Zealand to Zimbabwe to the Faroe Islands to Argentina. The racing took place during the day, Eastern Standard Time, meaning some competitors located in other time zones raced late at night, or even early in the morning.

The Lightweight Men’s 2000m was won by Bruno Cetraro of Uruguay in a time of 6:21.9, closely followed by his countryman Felipe Kluver in 6:22.7. Cetraro and Kluver placed 6th in the Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Jan Cizek of the Czech Republic, who took away bronze in the Men’s Quadruple Sculls at the 2021 World Rowing Junior Championships, won the Men’s U23 and Men’s Open 2000m in a time of 5:55.6.

In the Women’s U19 2000m, Danielle Kaschula of Zimbabwe, at 14 years old, came second with a time of 7:19.1. Kaschula also won the U19 500m with a time of 1:37.8. She also holds many World Records, most set at the start of the pandemic during lockdown.

Matt Stankiewitch, former American football player, has transferred over to the world of indoor rowing. He finished first in the Open Men’s 500m, with a time of 1:15.0, and has already qualified for the 2022 World Rowing Indoor Championships, where he hopes to finish anywhere from 3rd to 6th.

CIRCs also hosts a 4-minute and 1-minute race for military veterans.

The 2023 edition of this event is schedule to be a hybrid event – in-person and virtual – and will be a joint event with the 2023 World Rowing Indoor Championships.

To rewatch the 2022 edition of the Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships, click here.