Five World U19 Championship best times broken in Varese during A-Finals

With the U23 rowers having raced their finals, it was the turn of the U19s today. With a tail wind providing fast conditions, five World Championship Best Times were broken during fast and furious racing. Nine different National Anthems were heard during the Victory Ceremonies.

Women’s coxed four (JW4+) – Final

With just five entries, these boats had all raced each other in the preliminary race earlier in the week where USA had led from the start, and set a new World Championship Best Time. In the final, it was Germany that was fastest off the start but with USA and Italy hot on their heels. USA had taken the lead by the 500m and no crews were out of contention. By halfway, China had dropped out of the back. Into the final quarter of the race, the USA was still leading but there was very little to separate Italy and Germany for the silver medal. In the closing stages, Romania started to close the gap too, challenging for a medal. USA took gold, Italy silver and Romania had claimed the bronze. The USA crew had broken the World Championship Best Time for the second time this week.

Result: USA, ITA, ROU, GER, CHN 

Men’s coxed four (JM4+) – Final

Turkey was fastest off the start and established the early lead, with Germany in second and South Africa in the mix too. South Africa moved ahead of Turkey by halfway with Australia sitting in bronze medal position. The Italians were still over-rating all of the other crews and it looked like they started their sprint in the third quarter of the race. At 1,500m, South Africa was still leading, but the race certainly wasn’t over. The masses of South African supporters in the stands urged their crew to the line, but the field was closing fast. Australia had moved into the lead and was sprinting to the line and Italy had gained ground too, and taken up silver medal position. South Africa had been pushed out of the medal zone with Turkey taking the bronze.

Result: AUS, ITA, TUR, RSA, HUN, GER 

Women’s pair (JW2-) – Final

To the delight of the home supporters, it was the Italian pair of Sofia Naselli and Martina Scarpello that took the early lead. Behind Italy it was Greece and Germany with very little between them. At 1,000m, the Italians had almost a length lead over Greece with Germany still in third and the Wallis twins from New Zealand in fourth place. In the third quarter, the top three had broken away and whilst the medalists looked set, the order was stull changing. With every stroke, Greece was eating into the lead that Italy had established. With 500m left to go, the Greeks were pushing, but the Italians were responding. The cheers of “Italia” started erupting from the grandstands, but was it enough? Greece had moved into the lead and Italy couldn’t answer the charge. Germany had taken the bronze.

Result: GRE, ITA, GER, CHI, CAN, NZL

Men’s pair (JM2-) Final

Slovenia was off to a flying start with Germany going with them. By halfway, Serbia had moved into second place ahead of Germany. Slovenia was having to increase their boat speed to answer the challenge from Serbia. In the third quarter, Serbia had taken the lead! Serbia was having an amazing race and moved away every stroke, nobody could catch them. Slovenia maintained second position with Germany taking the bronze.

Result: SRB, SLO, GER, TUR, ROU, ITA

Women’s four (JW4-) – Final

In what is always a tightly-contested boat class, this was going to be an epic battle. The USA established the early lead, but only marginally ahead of Italy and France. In the second quarter, Italy lifted their rate and took the lead and, with Romania in second and France in third position, the USA had been pushed out of the medal zone. But it was far from over! Italy was holding the lead, Romania was in a solid second place with France still sitting in third. Great Britain and Spain looked to be out of the mix. Towards the finish line, Romania was putting Italy under serious pressure and Italy really had to respond. France was closing the gap too. Italy held on to the lead but it was so close on the line! With the sprint to the line, Italy had smashed the World Championship Best Time which had been set by their own junior crew in 2018 by over five seconds

Result: ITA, ROU, FRA, USA, ESP, GBR

Men’s four (JM4-) – Final 

Great Britain quickly established a strong lead with Germany and Romania close behind. By 500m, GB was leading by over two seconds and starting to open up more of a lead. It was a very impressive British crew with a length and half over Romania at 1,000m and Germany now in bronze medal position. The GB crew was underrating all of the other crews, but their boat speed was the highest. Whilst Great Britain was looking set for gold, the other medals were still up for grabs with Denmark having moved into silver medal position at 1,500m. GB was really dominating as they approached the line with clear water back to the remaining crews. Denmark held on to the silver and Romania took the bronze.

Result: GBR, DEN, ROU, ITA, GER, CZE

Women’s quadruple sculls (JW4x) – Final

Great Britain got off to the quickest start with Romania and Germany close behind. By 500m, Romania had moved into the lead but it was definitely not over; Great Britain was not going to let them get away. Germany had moved ahead of Great Britain by 1,000m with the USA sitting in fourth. Romania was looking unbelievably strong in the third quarter with incredible boat speed – Germany was the only other crew anywhere near able to match the speed. There was no stopping Romania in the final 500m but Great Britain was challenging Germany. Germany held them off to take silver.

Result: ROU, GER, GBR, USA, POL, NED

Men’s quadruple sculls (JM4x) – Final

It was the hosts, Italy who took the early lead, but Greece was going with them and challenging closely. However, Germany then came into the picture and at 1,000m, they had the lead over Greece with Italy having slipped back to third. There was a canvas between first and fourth going into the third quarter so absolutely nothing was set. The crowds were all on their feet – who was going to claim the three medals? The Czech Republic, with an incredible sprint, had moved into the front, Italy narrowly taking silver and Greece taking the bronze. What a finish!

Result: CZE, ITA, GRE, GER, POL, GBR

Women’s double sculls (JW2x) – Final

Greece got off to a flying start, looking to beat the World Championship Best Time that they had set in the semifinals. They quickly established a dominating position. Germany was sitting in second and Italy in third at halfway. Nobody could touch Greece, they were looking so strong, but who would take the other two medals? Germany sprinted towards the line and Italy was going with them. In the final 50m, Italy seemed to find some additional speed and overhauled Germany to take the silver. Greece’s sprint to the line had achieved their aim of beating their own World Championship Best Time, taking another 0.55 seconds off.

Result: GRE, ITA, GER, NED, FRA, IRL

Men’s double sculls (JM2x) – Final

Turkey was the first boat to make a showing, going off with the highest stroke rate and establishing an incredible boat speed. Italy had gone out strong too, but Turkey was obviously the crew to beat. Turkey has settled to 35 strokes per minute with Italy sitting in second but under pressure from Germany who, in turn, were only half a length ahead of the Netherlands. With 500m to go, the field was starting to close up and Turkey looked like they could be under threat. The lead had changed. Germany had sprinted early, Turkey were going to have to settle for silver with Italy taking the bronze.

Result: GER, TUR, ITA, NED, SUI, CRO

Women’s eight (JW8+) – Final

The six eights blasted off the start around 45 strokes per minute. There was very little to separate the USA and Germany in the early stages and the Czech Republic were certainly in the mix too. In the second quarter, Great Britain started to make a move, but the United States of America had established a strong lead. GB was underrating the USA, but we knew from the heat they had a fast second half. By halfway, USA was continuing to lead with only  a canvas lead over Germany and Great Britain in bronze medal position. New Zealand couldn’t be written off, they were level-pegging with Czech Republic and both crews certainly still in contention. Into the final quarter, the USA was holding a narrow lead and Great Britain had moved into second place ahead of Germany. It was all to play for as the crews came into the closing stages. The USA supporters boosted their crew towards the line, and Great Britain was desperately trying to hold off challenges from Romania and Germany. It was too early to confirm who had taken the bronze but it was eventually announced as Germany. The USA had broken the World Championship Best Time.

Result: USA, GBR, GER, ROU, NZL, CZE

Men’s single scull (JM1x) – Final

Germany’s Cornelius Conrad had a strong start, but it was Italy’s Marco Prati first to the 500m marker. It was perhaps surprising to see Great Britain’s Marcus Chute at the back of the field in the second quarter of the race, did he have more in the tank? Prati established a strong lead after the halfway marker and the gold was his to lose. The chants of “Marco” could be heard from the stands as the scullers approached the finish line – and he was absolutely dominating the race. It was absolutely sensational. Germany’s Conrad took the silver with Peter Strecanksy from Slovakia taking the bronze.

Result: ITA, GER, SVK, CHN, GBR, BEL

Women’s single sculls (JW1x) – Final

Greece’s Aikaterini Gkogkou was the first to 500m with Lina Kuehn of Switzerland hot on her heels. However, Gkogkou broke the link and established a clear water lead by 1,000m. With Kuehn still in second place, Germany’s Rebekka Falkenberg was sitting in third place, but she was being put under extreme pressure by Aurora Spirito. The Greek sculler was now absolutely dominating the race. Spirito started her sprint early and moved into bronze medal position, dispatching Falkenberg in the process. Gkogkou was untouchable, but the other medals certainly weren’t set. Kuehn was being challenged by Spirito for the silver medal and, to the delight of the home crowds, she came through in the final 20m to take the silver medal.

Result: GRE, ITA, SUI, GER, NED, HUN

Men’s eight (JM8+) – Final

The last race of the day! Germany was the early leader but there was very little to separate the six crews in the first quarter of the race. With Germany at 37 strokes per minute, they had their bow out in front, but China and Great Britain were also both in the mix. At 1,000m, GB was just 0.75 seconds behind Germany – a familiar race in the men’s eight was starting to unfold. The USA had moved into third with France sitting in fourth. Germany had opened up more of a lead with 500m to go, what did Great Britain have left in the tank? Not enough to match the German sprint was the answer. Germany crossed the line first. Great Britain took the silver and the USA held bronze despite an impressive final sprint from China.

Result: GER, GBR, USA, CHN, ITA, FRA