Get ready for a tidal wave of excitement! The 2025 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals are just around the corner, promising a thrilling preview of the sport's Olympic debut at the LA 2028 Games. This year, the action heads to Antalya, Turkey, from November 6th to 9th, where the world's top coastal rowers will battle it out for glory. You can catch all the heart-pounding moments live on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com.
This isn't your grandma's rowing! Beach sprint rowing is a unique and dynamic sport that kicks off with a sprint on land. Athletes then launch into their boats, navigate around buoys, and sprint back to the beach for a final dash to the finish line. It's a head-to-head format that guarantees non-stop action.
This year's finals are especially significant, featuring a record ten championship boat classes, including the exciting debut of the Inclusion Mixed Double Sculls (INMix2x). Three of the categories – men's solo (M1x), women's solo (W1x), and mixed double skulls (Mix2x) – will be showcased at the LA28 Olympics.
In the men's solo category, keep an eye on reigning world champion Chris Bak from the USA, who will be looking to defend his title against a formidable field. This includes Olympic Champion Spencer Turrin (Australia, Tokyo 2020), and other top contenders such as Joel Naukkarinen (Finland), Finlay Hamill (New Zealand), and James Cox (Great Britain).
The women's solo (W1x) promises an intense showdown between Olympic medalist Emma Twigg (New Zealand) and reigning World and European Beach Sprint Champion Magdalena Lobnig (Austria). Adding to the star power are Olympians Martyna Radosz (Poland) and Hanna Prakatsen (Uzbekistan), along with Christine Cavallo (USA) and Laura Mackenzie (Great Britain).
The competition also includes mixed quadruple sculls (Mix4x), under-19 men’s and women’s solo (JM1x, JW1x), under-19 men’s and women’s double sculls (JM2x, JW2x), and under-19 mixed double sculls (JMix2x).
Here's a sneak peek at the schedule (all times local UTC+3):
Thursday, November 6th
* 09:00: Heats: JM1x, JW1x, JM2x, JMix2x
* 13:00: Heats: M1x, W1x, Mix4x, Mix2x
* 15:45: Repechage: JM2x, JW2x
Friday, November 7th
* 08:30: Heats: JM1x, JW1x, M1x, W1x, JMix2x, Mix2x
* 11:50: Heat: INMix2x
* 13:30: Last 16: JM1x, Jw1x, JMix2x
* 15:25: Last 8: JM2x, JW2x
Saturday, November 8th
* 08:45: Repechage: INMix2x, Mix4x
* 09:40: Last 16: M1x, W1x, Mix2x
* 13:05: Last 8: JM1x, JW1x, JMix2x
* 16:00: Victory Ceremony: JM2x, JW2x, JM1x, JW1x, JMix2x
Sunday, November 9th
* 09:05: Last 8: Mix4x, M1x, W1x, Mix2x, INMix2x
* 15:00: Victory Ceremony & Closing Ceremony
How to Watch:
Don't miss a second of the action! Live coverage of the 2025 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals will be available on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com. Live streaming will also be available on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 local time (UTC+3) at worldrowing.com.
But here's where it gets controversial... Could the unique format of beach sprint rowing eventually overshadow traditional rowing in terms of popularity? What do you think about the inclusion of the Inclusion Mixed Double Sculls (INMix2x)? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
