Lorenzo Gerosa and Giovanni Ficarra celebrate their thrilling win in the lightweight men’s pair
PHOTOGRAPHY IGOR MEIJER
The World Rowing U23 Championships was an incredible event to witness this year – not simply because of the quality of competition, but also due to the outstanding venue. Many of the still-standing records from the World Rowing Junior Championships in 1999 were set in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as a result of record-breaking conditions and weather – and it was no different this summer. Temperatures reached a scorching 37°C on many of the days of racing, and a few pleasant tailwind gusts made for some fast racing that cut close to record time.
The opening ceremony was a fabulous blend of culture, music and audience interaction, taking place in an ancient Roman theatre that looked down over the city. The stage was set, with every nation represented both by flag & en masse.