Record number of nations at 2011 World Rowing Under-23 Championships

Athletes from all continents are represented; from Oceania, Asia, Africa, the Americas and, of course, Europe. The largest teams will be Germany (21 crews, 69 athletes), the USA (21 crews, 67 athletes) and Italy (16 crews, 54 athletes), while some rowers, such as Anna Ioannou from Cyprus, Edy Theka from Albania, Kelvin Bwibo from Kenya, Ali Abouelouafa from Morocco and Gabriela Mosqueira from Paraguay will represent their nations by themselves.

The previous record of participation was 57 nations with 309 crews set at the 2010 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Brest, Belarus. At that event, 23 nations brought medals back home with Germany topping the medals table with 12 medals. With the largest team entered this year, the German team will be a tough contender for the top of the medal table again this year. At Amsterdam's famous Bosbaan regatta venue, races will again be scheduled in 21 boat classes. The Bosbaan regatta course was widened in the early 2000's to eight racing lanes, a new finish tower and boat house facilities. It will host the 2014 World Rowing Championships in August 2014.

Highlights of last year's regatta included an Under-23 World Best Time in the women's pair, set by Ashley Kroll and Felice Mueller of the USA. Felice Mueller is back this year with a new partner, Grace Luczak, who was part of the 2010 under-23 World Champion women's eight.

Greece's Triantafyllia Kalampoka and Christina Giazitzidou won their second under-23 title last year and are back again with a third under-23 gold on their mind. Two-time Junior World Champion and Youth Olympic silver medallist Felix Bach, from Germany, will be racing in the under-23 men's quadruple sculls.

Alexander Alexandrov, a 21 year old Bulgarian with an Azerbaijan passport, has six years of international racing in the men's single sculls under his belt.  A two-time Junior World Champion, a silver medallist at under-23 level and a bronze medallist at the European Rowing Championships, he will be a single sculler to look out for. Under-23 World Champions in the men's double sculls Dairis Adamaitis and Lauris Sire from Latvia are back and will no doubt aim for nothing less than the top prize.

The World Rowing Under 23 Championships is a major stepping stone for athletes 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. 

Entries, timetable, full reports, live audio streaming, live results and features are available on www.worldrowing.com.