A German feast at the junior champs

German rowers managed to be in 12 of the 13 finals. German supporters were able to watch rowers from their country stand on the medals podium for 10 of those 12 events. The supporters were able to watch and cheer for a total of 36 athletes who had medals put around their necks. And the Germans got to listen to their national anthem a full five times as five of the crews won gold medals.

Germany came first in both the men’s and women’s single with Felix Bach winning the title for the second year in a row in the men’s single and Judith Sievers winning it for the women in her first year racing in the single. The German’s also did a double header in the quad. Winning the men’s and women’s event meant the German national anthem played twice in a row. Then Germany topped off their gold medal bonanza with a win in the men’s double.

The eight remaining gold medals were spread relatively evenly. Switzerland took one in the men’s coxed four. This medal brought tears of joy from the coxswain, Marco Brechbuehl, acknowledging this as the first gold medal for Switzerland at the World Rowing Junior Championships in 16 years.

For the winners of the women’s eight, Great Britain, the crew earned the honour of earning the first female gold medal of all time in this event for their country.

The remaining gold medals were split between New Zealand (women’s four), Romania (women’s pair and men’s four), Greece (men’s pair), France (women’s double) and the United States (men’s eight).

Next on the junior rowing programme is the Youth Olympic Games. These begin in Singapore at the end of the week and 55 of the rowers who competed in Racice will now turn around and head for the 1000m racing in pairs and singles in Singapore. 

The 2011 World Rowing Junior Championships will be in Eton Dorney, Great Britain, from 3 to 6 August, and will be used as the test regatta for rowing at the 2012 London Olympic Games.