A short and violent storm at the start of the 2009 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Racice, Czech Republic, brought the rowing community together when eight boats were damaged beyond repair. The men's coxed four event was under threat after 8 of the boats entered were unusable.
The rowing community rallied and a number of nations and boat builders offered to help. The support from the German Federation was especially recognised when they were presented with a Fair Play Award from the Czech Republic. Chairman of the Czech Rowing Association, Jiri Kejval, said there were two highlights for him at these championships, the high level of competition and the response to the storm.
"I was amazed at how helpful everyone was to each other and the huge solidarity amongst the rowing community" said Kejval. "I am very proud to be part of the rowing community. The friendships were noticeable to me. The German Federation help was the biggest but in my point of view everyone helped."
The men's coxed four ended in a win for New Zealand, rowing in a boat supplied by the Italian boat builder Filippi. The change in boats had not been a disadvantage.
Germany finished the regatta in fine form with 13 medals from the 21 events, five of them gold. Their lightweight crews especially held strong bringing in four of the golds.
Italy enjoyed a six-medal success with their lightweight men's pair of Andrea Caianiello and Armando Dell'Aquila, winng their third consecutive championship title. The duo also set a new under 23 World Best Time. A number of new World Best Times were set including one by local rower, Jitka Antosova in the women's single. Olympian Antosova received huge crowd support for the entire 2000m race as she rowed in very slight tail wind conditions on the Racice Regatta Course.
Iran also attracted much adulation when lightweight single sculler Mohsen Shadi Naghadeh won the first ever gold medal in rowing for his country at a World Rowing event.
Now in its fifth year, the World Rowing Under 23 Championships continues to provide an important platform for developing future elite rowers, as is evident in the high level of competition and the continuing growth in participation. 56 nations entered the 2009 Championships, the largest entry since the event took on World Championship status back in 2005. This year saw Angola participate for the first time and the introduction of a new event, the lightweight women's quadruple sculls.
The international rowing world will gather again in ten days time for the World Rowing Junior Championships in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France.
For race full results, reports and features, go to www.worldrowing.com.