Participation is still on the rise for the world's under 23 rowers as over 880 athletes have confirmed participation in this month's World Rowing Under 23 Championships to take place in Brest, Belarus from 22 to 25 July. In total, 57 nations have entered. In 2009, 830 athletes from 56 countries were present, making this year yet another record breaking entry since the event took on World Championship status back in 2005.
Formerly known as the Nation's Cup and the Match des Séniors, this is the sixth year that this regatta for rowers under 23 years of age has had "World Rowing Championship" status. It started in 1976 with 11 nations and 65 rowers participating. The event acts as a stepping stone for athletes on their way to the elite level, but who are still refining their skills.
The men's double scull registers the highest number of entries with a total of 25 crews. Coming in just behind, with 24 boats entered, the lightweight men's single scull is also one of the most popular events for this regatta.
Germany and USA bring the largest teams to Belarus, each with 69 athletes distributed among 21 boats. Unsurprisingly, host nation Belarus will be strongly represented by 18 crews and 61 senior B athletes.
For the first time this year, the finals of the World Rowing U23 Championships shall be rowed over two days: the women's four, men's coxed four, lightweight women's quadruple scull, women's pair, women's double and women's quadruple sculls shall all be raced on Saturday after 16:30 (local time), allowing some athletes the chance to double up in a Sunday final.
Since becoming world U23 Champions in 2009, the Croatian men's quadruple sculls crew of David Sain, Damir Martin (22 today) and brothers Martin and Valent Sinkovic have participated in the senior World Championships and become the World Cup winners in this event for 2010. They return to the U23s (for the last time together) with a wealth of racing experience, and the confidence to take on another world title. This crew keeps the best senior men's quads on their toes, and thus will be hard to beat in Brest. .
The World Rowing Under 23 Championships is a major stepping stone for athlete participating through FISA's Development Programme. This year, 40 athletes from 11 developing rowing nations are benefitting from the support of the local organising committee and FISA to enable their participation. Several participants from these countries already raced in Lucerne at the final stage of the Rowing World Cup last week-end. Among them Paraguay's Gabriela Mosqueira, who made her first appearance on the World Rowing scene at the 2008 World Rowing Junior Championships and already has several successes at continental events.
The Brest regatta course is one of the training grounds of the two-time Olympic Champion and six-time World Champion single sculler Ekaterina Karsten-Khodotovitch. Karsten was Belarus' first athlete to win an Olympic medal, making her a national hero.
Entries, timetable, full reports, live audio streaming, live results and features are available on www.worldrowing.com.