An important edition of the World Rowing Championships has commenced, with rowers from 80 countries at the Kafue River & Rowing Centre in Austria to decide not only the best for 2019, but to reserve places in 14 events for the 2020 Olympic regatta in Tokyo.
In each of the seven Olympic events for men and women, specific numbers of quota places will be available, with remaining places to be decided in continental qualification events next year.
In terms of favorites, it’s hard to tell. The World Cup series earlier in the year had spotty participation, so no obvious front-runners emerged. Looking at the last two Worlds, maybe that was to be expected, as in the 14 Olympic events, only three have had repeat champions in 2017 and 2018. A look at the gold medalists at the last two Worlds (with the qualification quotas from the 2019 Worlds for Tokyo):
Men
● Single Sculls: 9 to qualify for 2020
2017: Ondrej Synek (CZE) ~ fifth World Championships gold
2018: Kjetil Borch (NOR)
● Double Sculls: 11 to qualify for 2020
2017: John Storey/Chris Harris (NZL)
2018: Hugo Boucheron/Matthieu Androdias (FRA)
● Quadruple Sculls: 8 to qualify for 2020
2017: Lithuania
2018: Italy
● Pairs: 11 to qualify for 2020
2017: Matteo Lodo/Giuseppe Vicino (ITA)
2018: Martin Sinkovic/Valent Sinkovic (CRO)
● Fours: 8 to qualify for 2020
2017: Australia
2018: Australia
● Eights: 5 to qualify for 2020
2017: Germany
2018: Germany
● Lightweight Double Sculls: 7 to qualify for 2020
2017: Pierre Houin/Jeremie Azou (FRA)
2018: Gary O’Donovan/Paul O’Donovan (IRL)
Women
● Single Sculls: 9 to qualify for 2020
2017: Jeannie Gmelin (SUI)
2018: Sanita Puspure (IRL)
● Double Sculls: 11 to qualify for 2020
2017: Brooke Donoghue/Olivia Loe (NZL)
2018: Milda Valciukaite/Ieva Adomaviciute (LTU)
● Quadruple Sculls: 8 to qualify for 2020
2017: Netherlands
2018: Poland
● Pairs: 11 to qualify for 2020
2017: Grace Pendergast/Kerri Gowler (NZL)
2018: Calleigh Fisher/Hillary Janssens (CAN)
● Fours: 8 to qualify for 2020
2017: Australia
2018: United States (Wanamaker, Boxberger, Bruggeman, Reelick)
● Eights: 5 to qualify for 2020
2017: Romania
2018: United States
● Lightweight Double Sculls: 7 to qualify for 2020
2017: Ionela-Livia Lehaci/Gianina Beleaga (ROU)
2018: Ionela-Livia Lehaci/Gianina Beleaga (ROU)
Finals begin on Friday and the A-finals in the Olympic-program races are on the weekend.
NBC has coverage of the Worlds, mostly on the NBC Olympic Channel, but also on NBCSN; the full schedule is here. World Rowing has excellent coverage on its own site, with a live blog and full results here.
