Comp Success at the 2022 World Rowing Championships

Men's Heavyweight Olympic Medalist and World Champion, Ondrej Synek, joining us in 2009 at a Head Of The Charles photoshoot.

Concept2 provided oar service and support at this year’s World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic, which saw over 900 competitors from 65 countries compete at elite rowing’s annual highest-profile competition. 

Our latest blade design, the Comp, had a strong showing on the medals stand. Athletes using the Comp blades medaled in ten events: Gold W2x Romania M2x France LW2x Great Britain LW1x Romania Silver M2x Spain PR3MIX4+ Germany Bronze W2x Ireland M2x Australia LW2x Ireland W4x Great Britain Of exceptional note, the Comp was in the hands of all three men’s double (M2x) crews who medaled in the A final: France, Spain and Australia. 

We’re excited to see more and more crews finding speed with this blade. Its lightweight, efficient design is approachable for athletes at any level of racing, but it’s great to see those performance advantages demonstrated on the championship level. The Comp’s wide shape provides stability for easy handling, while the low surface area facilitates higher stroke rates. 

In addition to cheering on athletes and enjoying the success of athletes using the Comp blade, Concept2 takes great pride in helping athletes with equipment needs during racing. Travel woes plagued some competitors, who arrived in the Czech Republic only to find their oars broken in transit. Concept2 is eager to make sure athletes can get to the starting line, and built oars on site for the Egyptian, Indonesian and Ukrainian teams. In total, 91.6% of competitors rowed with Concept2 oars. Concept2 supports each of these competitors and makes sure they’re prepared for racing. 

The 2022 World Rowing Championships ended with a 500-meter tribute row for retired Czech athlete Ondrej Synek. Synek is a three-time Olympic medalist and five-time World Rowing Champion in the men’s single sculls. Five of Synek’s friends and rivals joined him in the exhibition event. These athletes have also all joined Concept2 and the Head Of The Charles® Regatta as members of the Great Eight Crew: Alan Campbell (Great Britain), Olaf Tufte (Norway), Mahe Drysdale (New Zealand), Iztok Cop (Slovenia) and Lassi Karonen (Sweden). Concept2 thanks Synek for his contributions and excellence in the sport. Our teams have always “looked up to you” as a giant in rowing.