U23 World Championships: Day 1

Only a short session on Wednesday night to start the 2023 U23 World Championships in Plovdiv. It was a scorching morning both on and off the water for our Aussies. With temps well into the 30s both Coxed Fours were able to handle the heat and come out on top!

With the first race of the regatta being the preliminary for the Women's Coxed 4 our girls and Nick, led from start to finish. The commanding victory now gives the crew confidence going into the A Final on Saturday at 6:49 PM. We cannot wait to see Emily, Sofie and Zara in action with World Rowing live streaming racing from Saturday.

For the Men it was a two horse race for the first 1500m between the Aussies and the Germans. There was nothing more than a canvas in it until Alex Wood bought the rate up to 38 to stride away from Germany a securing Australia's place in the A FInal at 6:59 PM on Saturday. We are hoping to see another gear from the boys on their quest for Gold and to try and take the mantle of Worlds Best Time away from coach Matthias Ungemach's with the boys last night prognostic being 95.18%. Both crews have a few days off now to find those 1% before Saturday. 

Tonight we get to see the rest of our NSW contingent in action! Up first is the Men's Eight 4:10 PM AEST, with Yale Captain Harry Keenan and teammate Alexander McClean as well as Syracuse finest Lachlan Doust looking to book a spot in the A Final. The Men's Four has Nikolas Pender on board at 4:55PM AEST with Top 3 to go though the SF on Saturday.

The last NSW athlete in action in Grace Sypher Heat 2 of the Lightweight Single Scull from 5:15PM AEST.

Photo credit: World Rowing