Great Results at the World Rowing Championships

This year's World Rowing Championships highlighted new faces, fast rowing and an impressive new North American regatta venue: Nathan Benderson Park (Sarasota, Florida). We're honored to have crossed the finish line in the hands of the world's best: 90% of all medalists rowed with Concept2.

The Skinny continues to be the athletes' choice for high performance. Of all crews using Concept2 (86% of all boats), 77% rowed with the Skinny shaft. All gold medals (100%) in sweep events were won with Concept2 oars.

The World Rowing Championships showcased talent to watch in the next quadrennial leading up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Italian team took home the most hardware, nine medals in all. The US won six medals: silvers in the Women's 2-, Women's 2x, Men's 8+, Para Mixed 4+, and bronze in the Lightweight Women's 2x and Lightweight Women's 1x.

One of the most talked about races of the regatta was the Men's 2-. With the retirement of New Zealand's perennial champions, the "Kiwi Pair," the results were (for once!) uncertain. There were many bets on Croatians Valent and Martin Sinkovic, who recently switched from sculling (Men's 2x) to sweep rowing (Men's 2-). What a race! The leading bowball changed lanes throughout the race, with the Italians eeking out the win in the last 100 meters. The US Men's 8+ race also proved to be a fan favorite. Without any World Cup racing this year, the speed of this crew was unknown. The American fans were excited to see the US perform so well—earning silver—the best performance by the US Men's Eight in quite a few years! It was the first World Rowing Championships hosted in the United States in 23 years. Nathan Benderson Park, a purpose-built certified course, was commended throughout the regatta for providing excellent hospitality, world-class facilities and fair racing. 

We're excited to welcome the world's best to the next big regatta on our schedule, the Head Of The Charles Regatta®. Congratulations to members of the Great Eights on their medals at the World Rowing Championships:

• Jeannine Gmelin, Switzerland, Women's Single, Gold
• Magdalena Lobnig, Austria, Women's Single, Bronze
• Paul O'Donovan, Ireland, Lightweight Men's Single, Gold

See you in Boston!