Qingdao waves test athletes on day 1 of 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals

After a stormy weekend that forced the cancellation of training and competition at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao, racing finally got underway on Monday.

The conditions proved challenging, with many capsizes across the boat classes as rowers battled irregular breaking waves – but brought plenty of excitement for spectators on the beach.

European champions challenged

Spain’s Ander Martin and Esther Briz arrived in Qingdao fresh off victories at the 2026 European Rowing Coastal Championships in the men’s and women’s solos, but had to race the second time trial after failing to make the top eight in the first. Men’s European silver medallist Joel Naukkarinen (FIN) faced the same situation. All three did progress to the knockouts thanks to solid second time trial performances.

Isabella Scammell (AUS) won the women’s solo time trial 1 by seven seconds over Raminta Morkunaite (LTU) and Zhu Wenjie (CHN), with 2025 world silver medallist Magdalena Lobnig (AUT) fourth. Meanwhile, Moritz Wolff (GER), fourth last year, was the fastest in the men’s solo time trial, 3.3 seconds ahead of defending champion Chris Bak (USA).

Australia Impress in Mixed Doubles

After winning the women’s solo time trial, Scammell also won the coastal mixed doubles time trial alongside Oscar Scheel Gamborg, by a narrow 1.21-second margin over reigning champions Lithuania. Spain were third. Portugal, who reached the semifinals in 2025, had to race the second time trial, but emerged the comfortable victors.

European champions Marcos Delgado and Rocio Fraguela (ESP) won the inclusion mixed doubles time trial, with Great Britain’s Colin Wallace and Clare Jamison second, both progressing automatically to the semifinals.

Indonesia Make History in Quads

Indonesia are competing in the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals for the first time, and the Indonesian coastal mixed coxed quadruple sculls impressed by defeating Egypt in their repechage on Monday. Coming into the beach just ahead of Egypt, but with a long way to run, bowman M Ikbal showed good speed to take the win. Earlier on, Germany posted the fastest time in the time trial, ahead of Great Britain; 2025 champions the USA were seventh and had to beat Brazil in their repechage to progress.

Junior Solos Show Grit

The under 19 men’s and women’s solos had a big day, with time trials followed by the knockout round for the last 16. China’s Bu Boren (men) and Zhu Weiwei (women) won the time trials and then safely advanced to the last 8. The knockout rounds produced some close racing; Colombia’s first-ever beach sprint athlete, Alejandro Riccardi, narrowly missed out on progression, losing to Raphael de Boussac (FRA) by 0.4 seconds. In the women’s knockout rounds there was a gritty contest between the event’s youngest competitor Allison Grove of the USA and Marina Lopez (ESP), with both having issues off the start and yet both racing to the finish. Meanwhile Emily Pengelly (NZL) capsized when a wave hit her early on, but she got back in her boat and finished the race, losing to Canada’s Autumn Prior.

Close Racing in Junior Doubles

Germany, Italy and Great Britain emerged as the time trial winners of the under 19 mixed, men’s and women’s double sculls – but with times close among the top crews, the knockout rounds are likely to be exciting in these events. In the under 19 men’s double sculls, Great Britain edged out the USA for the final place in the last eight. However, the USA beat Germany in a narrow fight for the eighth spot in the under 19 women’s double sculls, and also claimed the final knockout place ahead of Romania in the second time trial in the under 19 mixed double sculls.