Who to watch WC <23

Over three hundred teams from 63 countries. Every country has its own exotically coloured suits and all the nation’s flags are on their blades. Is that Georgia or Kazachstan? And who’s that? Iraq or Egypt? In this world championship it is hard to find the likely candidates for the victory. Enough experienced rowers are present, but they do not always row for typical rowing nations such as Great Britain, Germany, the United States and Australia. To prevent that spectators will spend hours doing research on the competition, we have made a list with a few interesting rowers to watch.

M1x
In the men’s single scull it is impossible to ignore one man. Aleksander Aleksandrov from Azerbaijan. He is not extraordinarily tall, not extraordinarily heavy, but he can row extraordinarily fast. Born in Bulgaria, he has been rowing on international regattas since he was sixteen. Five years later, he is the likely candidate for the victory. Last year, Aleksandrov had to leave first place to Karl Schulze, a German rowers who even makes Dutchman Roel Braas look small. Schulze is not here this year. Taking his place is Hubert Trzybinski, who is certainly just as impressive. Yet, Aleksandrov knows what it feels like to win: at junior level he won the world championships twice. He does, however, also have to beat with the experienced Stergios Papchristos. The rower from Greece has built up quite a medal collection, of which the silver medal from the world championships in New Zealand in 2010 is likely to be his favourite. Sweep rowing, however, is not the same as sculling.

W1x
Number one and two of last year’s women’s single scull will also take part this year. Chances are that there will be an Eastern-European battle between Vistartaite from Lithuania and Pajusalu from Estonia. The latter having the advantage of her impressive power. Earlier this year she won the American erg-championships with an impressive time of 6:41.3. The problem for Pajusalu is that she cannot yet convert her raw power into boat speed very efficiently. Perhaps this is good news for the small and explosive Nicole Beukers from the Netherlands. She knows how to win tough races like nobody else.

LM1x
The most remarkable name in the entries list for the LM1x must be that of Frenchman Jeremie Azou. The very experienced rower is apparently still young enough to take part in the WU23. Azou was only nineteen when he took his first world championship-medal in the lightweight quad, and in 2009 won silver in the highly competitive LM2x. In reality, Azou has already left the U23 rowing scene behind him, but now, in his last U23 year, he has taken the single scull to fight for first place. He is therefore the very likely to win this world championship. For Dutchman Frans Goutier, who was in the light quad last year, it will be a challenge to tackle the stiff competition. Yet, Goutier is familiar with the Bosbaan and knows that by bluffing you can come a long way in the single scull.

LW1x
The Dutch Annick Taselaar is a contender for one of medals this year. In her first season as a lightweight rower she raced against the British Katherine Copeland during the Holland Beker several weeks ago. In this race Copeland took the victory. Yet, Taselaar is one to fight back. Copeland is not the only contender for the gold. The likely candidate is Alena Kryvasheyenka from Belarus. She was best in Brest in 2010 and this year she looking to defend her title. Also take notice of the Swedish Emma Fred, who might just surprise the competition.

M2-
The British, traditionally good at rowing, will most likely dominate the coxless pair. Constantine Louloudis and George Nash were both in the Boat Race. Nash rowed for the Light Blues of Cambridge and Louloudis was one of the powerful rowers in the Oxford boat. Louloudis took the victory, but that does not mean that that the two rowers cannot look at each other anymore. A month after the Boat Race the two rowers show a solid performance at the British trials. In the final they offered stiff competition to the more experienced pairs. Additionally, the two rowers went to Lucerne, taking the seventh place, relatively unprepared. An exceptional performance for a crew which is actually working towards to WU23. Both men won silver in the coxless four last year. Will it be gold this year? South Africa, last year's gold medallist, has only one rowers remaining from its winning crew. That will most likely not be enough to win this time.

LM2-
Great Britain has had a significant amount of power in lightweight rowing over the last years. Even though during the Olympic Games in Beijing the coxless four did not perform according to expectation, it is though that the British will take home one of the medals next year. This is not only because the four has been consistently performing well all season, but also because Great Britain has some extra very talented rowers. Kieren Emery won silver in the double scull last year. Peter Chamber was a spare in Lucerne and won the gold in the coxless four together with his brother Richard. Now, Chambers junior and Emery team up for the coxless pair. This is not the most prestigious field, so perhaps there is a chance to pull a ‘Muda’. What’s that? Well, winning with an enormous lead, like Tycho and Vincent Muda did in Brest last year.

W2-
American women and coxless pairs are usually a good combination. It is therefore not surprising that it is the United States who will have to defend their title. Muller and Kroll did not have a strong lead to Romania last year, only a small gap of 3 tenths of a second. Felice Muller is the only remaining crew member and she, together with her new partner, Grace Luczak, will have to compete against the Romanians, who also have a new team. The ladies from Southern Europe, however, are not a bad team and they will have to be considered as possible medal winners. And what about the Netherlands? Inge Janssen and Ellen Hogerwerf performed very well at the Holland Beker. Rumour has it that their Utrecht-Delft partnership could be a contender for a medal. Bronze? Or perhaps more? The final should certainly be feasible.

M2x
Latvia is not mentioned very often as a medal candidate. Once in a blue moon the quad, perhaps, but that’s it. Yet, the country won gold in the double scull last year. This year, Sire and Amamaitis have returned to take the gold once more. Just like last year the competition will come from Germany, a country which traditionally does well in this boat class. Especially the man in the stroke position, Sebastian Peter, has an impressive record of several medals from various championships. Last year he took the silver behind the Latvians, but how will it go in combination with his new partner? The Dutch crew consisting of Freek Robbers and Dirk Uittenbogaard should be good enough to reach the final. The rowers from the Nereus boat club from Amsterdam do not want to predict an outcome. Perhaps that is a good strategy. Less though, more action. Uittenbogaard knows that it is like to row finals. Now he only needs to earn the medals.

W2x
With only eleven entries the women’s double scull is not the most very popular. That does not take away the fact that the competition at the head of the field will be ruthless. German rowers Schultze and Adams will most likely take the lead, closely followed by the women from Belarus. But can the youthfulness of the Germans beat the experience of the rowers from Belarus? An outsider for a good result is the Romanian double. Petrila and Craciun have been winning medals regularly since 2009. This year, however, they have not yet found their rhythm, but this can still happen here in Amsterdam.

LM2x
In terms of entries the lightweight men’s double scull is doing well. An impressive 25 crews will make their way to the scale. No single crew dominates this field. The Greeks are the reigning world champions, yet the country has come with a new double this year. And even when your brother’s name is Konsolas and your older brother became world champion in Brest in 2010 it does not give you any assurances for the future. Instead, other countries also have their eyes on the medals. The Danes are almost always solid performers, the Spanish were fifth last year and the Germans (bronze last year) also have a good chance for the victory. For the Dutch Allard van den Hoven and Dan Weide the competition might be a little too strong.

LW2x
Unlike in the men’s field, the women’s double scull has a clear favourite. It is already pretty clear that the Greeks will win. It is hard to compete with the list of medals of Triantafyllia Kalampoka and Christina Giatzitzidou. The surprising winners of the silver of last year’s WU23, New Zealand, altered their crew. Lucy Strack has made the step to adult rowing and Julia Edward remains alone. Whether the newly formed Kiwi double has the same fighting power as last year’s crew remains to be seen. Nereus girls Lieve Leijssen and Lisa Worner do not belong to the outsiders, and perhaps their preparation in Italy has made them stronger. The tips of Marit van Eupen, reigning Olympic champion, must have helped somehow.

M4-
During the World Championships under 23 Italy often performs well in the men’s heavy weight boat classes. Not the eight, but in the men’s four and the coxed four the Azzurri are often to be found in the front of the field. This will not be different in Amsterdam. Even though there is just one rower left from the winning crew of last year, it seems that Italy has put together a few strong men in the boat again. Germany, the big component, sends four silver winners of last year in the coxed four. That boat type is especially appropriate for extreme power rowers, while you need more refined rowing in the coxless four. Nevertheless, the Germans will be in the race for the prizes. Additionally, three seat Kay Rückbrodt, has a some very nice examples: both his lightweight brothers have been rowing on top level for years.

LM4-
Fourteen entries, just like the Olympic Games. In addition, all top countries are represented. In that sense, the lightweight men’s four prospects are fine, especially when you realise that the number one and two of last year, Great Britain and Italy, both have exactly the same line-up as the previous year. Almost all other crews are new. Just as at the senior’s, the under 23 lightweight men’s four race is usually the most exciting one of the tournament. The Dutch crew will have to row their best races in order to compete with the other top boats. Second chances are rare in this boat class. It has to be right from the first stroke from the start for Kuiper, Kortink, de Cort and Peeters.

W4-
This is not necessarily the most prestigious field, but there are definitely chances for the Netherlands. The crew rowed at the Holland Beker in Amsterdam above expectation, and beat the Canadian crew that was in Amsterdam on both days. Not Canada, but the United States, the reigning world champions, is favourite for the title. Australia too (silver 2010) has good chances, as well as Germany. Italy, however, should not be underestimated either. The Netherlands will have to show their best in this women’s event to earn a spot on the podium.

M4+
Just as in the heavy weight fours, the top three will mostly likely include Germany and Italy. The Italians are very strong. Almost all Germans, however, are taller and stronger than the Italians, and may improve the international record for rowers under 23 (6:14.39). For the Dutch crew to win a medal might be difficult; a place in the final should be possible.

M4x
Croatia was unattainable in 2010, not only in the under 23 category, but also on the senior level in New-Zealand. The big question is what the level is of their followers who will have to compete in Amsterdam. The four doe not have a lot of experience and it will be hard to compete with the other crews. Germany is one of the favourites with their ever solid strokes. They have a very young team who knows what it means to win by rowing experience on the junior level. Eastern European countries such as Ukraine, Belorussia, Poland and Russia finished well last year and will be the greatest components of Germany. Watch out for the Australians as well who could become the big surprise of the competition.

W4x
Even if you did not bring the winning crew of last year, you still might be favourite for the title. The German quad won easily in 2010. Only Julia Lier is left from the golden crew of last year, but that does not mean that the German boat has less quality of rowing. Russia finished second last year and seems to be one of the top crews for this year again. The United States, Rumania and perhaps even New-Zealand also seem to have interesting crews for this year’s competition.     

LW4x
Originally, there was not women’s lightweight quad at the World Championships under 23. A few countries, among which the Netherlands, have lobbied for this boat class and as of now lightweight women’s quad is included in the competition. This year there are even eight boats, unfortunately lacking a Dutch entry. Italy seems to be on her way to the golden medal. But perhaps the Chinese ladies will do well at the races. Germany and France will certainly join the competition for the prizes. The French won bronze last year and are obviously eager to finish higher this year.

M8+
The Germans have been rulers of the men’s eight since a long time. In 2011 too, the Germans have the best papers for gold. Other important crews are Great Britain and the United States. It is hard to position the Dutch eight, for they are strong and technical in the eight. They might beat the strong Polish rowers. The Dutch audience will certainly help them to excel in their races.

W8+
As usual, the Americans are favourite for the title. The Dutch women’s eight consists of several Dutch boats in which Lisanne van Geffen and trump Kirsten Wielaard (who rowed the WU23 last year) will take place. This might turn the women’s eight competition, also with the British and German eights fighting for silver into a top event. Do not, however, forget the young New-Zealand crew, whose seniors’ team might drive from Hazewinkel to Amsterdam to cheer on their talents!