The last World Rowing Cup of 2024 is set to take place in Poznan, Poland, from June 14 to 16. This event serves as a critical final test for many crews before the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, while others will be making their international debuts or testing under-23 combinations. World Rowing Cup leaders, the Netherlands, will be vying for the overall title, with Great Britain close behind by just 10 points. Both nations are among those sending development squads to Poland. Here are the crews to watch:
Women’s Pair (W2-)
Australian pair Jessica Morrison and Annabelle McIntyre, who won silver at World Rowing Cup II, aim to clinch gold in Poznan. They will face stiff competition from Ireland’s Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh, with both crews, along with Denmark’s Hedvig Rasmussen and Fie Udby Erichsen, heading to Paris. Some pairs, including the Australians and Romania 1, are also competing in the women’s eight, while Great Britain races in the women’s four and the Netherlands switches to the women’s double sculls.
Men’s Pair (M2-)
Reigning world champions Roman Roeosli and Andrin Gulich of Switzerland seek their first win of the season, especially with their British rivals Tom George and Oliver Wynne-Griffith absent. Croatia, Australia, and Ireland will also be looking for strong performances ahead of the Olympic Games.
Women’s Double Sculls (W2x)
Among the 12 entrants in the women’s double sculls, Olympic contenders include Australia, France, and Norway. Norwegian European champions Thea Helseth and Inger Kavlie aim to outperform Australia’s Amanda Bateman and Harriet Hudson, who bested them at World Rowing Cup II. France’s Margaux Bailleul and Emma Lunatti will also be competing, looking to improve their standing before Paris.
Men’s Double Sculls (M2x)
French Olympic champions Hugo Boucheron and Matthieu Androdias have reunited to reclaim their title. They finished fifth at World Rowing Cup II and are determined to improve in Poznan. Ireland’s Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle, bronze medallists, will be a key focus as they compare themselves against the French duo in preparation for Paris. Norway’s entry includes Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Kjetil Borch, competing in a crew boat for the first time since 2017.
Women’s Four (W4-)
The Danish Sweephearts and New Zealand are the only crews competing in Poznan that will be in Paris. Great Britain has entered a development crew, and Australia is still finalizing their Olympic lineup, tweaking the squad that finished sixth in Lucerne.
Men’s Four (M4-)
Reigning Olympic champions Australia, with a new combination for 2024, are looking to improve on their fourth-place finish at World Rowing Cup II. New Zealand, silver medallists from the same regatta, and Switzerland, who qualified for Paris, will also be strong contenders.
Women’s Single Sculls (W1x)
With 23 entries, this is the largest event at World Rowing Cup III. Notable competitors include Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Anna Prakaten and Australian Tara Rigney, who secured silver in Lucerne. The absence of world gold and silver medallists Karolien Florijn and Emma Twigg opens the door for new champions.
Men’s Single Sculls (M1x)
Among the 19 entries, 12 scullers are using this regatta as part of their Paris preparation. Key competitors include New Zealand’s Tom Mackintosh, who withdrew from World Rowing Cup II due to medical reasons, and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Damir Martin of Croatia. Japan’s Ryuta Arakawa and Denmark’s Sverri Nielsen are also strong contenders.
Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x)
Seven of the 16 nations that qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics will compete in Poznan, including France’s Laura Tarantola and Claire Bove. They will be joined by crews from Poland, Austria, and New Zealand, the latter having won silver at World Rowing Cup II.
Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x)
Five entrants include four Paris-bound crews from Argentina, France, Mexico, and Switzerland. The Swiss duo, Jan Schaeuble and Raphael Ahumada, are the form boat, with France 1, Hugo Beurey, and Ferdinand Ludwig, winning the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne.
Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x)
European and World Rowing Cup I bronze medallists Germany lead the field, joined by Australia and Switzerland. Poland is the only non-Olympic crew.
Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x)
Nine entrants include three Paris-bound crews. Poland, Germany, and Switzerland have had strong seasons, with the Netherlands aiming to gain World Rowing Cup points in the absence of their world and Olympic champion teammates.
Women’s Eight (W8+)
Many rowers in the women’s eight will race in multiple events in Poznan. The Dutch are the only crew focusing solely on the eight, potentially giving them an edge for a medal.
Men’s Eight (M8+)
Australia and Germany are the leading crews in the five-boat men’s eights race. Germany has adjusted their lineup after finishing fifth in Lucerne. A young Romanian crew and two Ukrainian entries complete the field.
Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x)
This event features strong competitors including Maia Lund, Tosca Kettler, and Kenia Lechuga. Romania’s Mariana-Laura Dumitru and USA’s Mary Jones, both medal winners in previous championships, are also expected to perform well.
Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x)
Among the 12 scullers, Frenchman Baptiste Savaete and Slovenian Peter Strecansky have won World Rowing Cup medals this season. The field also includes German Jonathan Rommelmann and Algerian Sid Ali Boudina, both strong contenders for Paris.