Historic World Rowing opener in Varese: Mixed Eight Debut, Records, and Uruguay’s First Gold

The 2025 World Rowing Cup I in Varese marked a historic start to the season. Highlights included the debut of the mixed eight event, showcasing gender-balanced crews in an exciting new format. The regatta saw a new world best time in the PR3 mixed double sculls and Uruguay celebrated its first-ever World Cup gold — a milestone for the nation. Strong performances came from traditional powerhouses like Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Italy, while several nations used the event as key preparation ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympics and Olympic follow-up season.

13th June to 15th June 2025:

The 2025 World Rowing Cup I in Varese delivered thrilling performances across all boat classes, setting the tone for an exciting season. One of the most talked-about moments was the debut of the mixed eight event, featuring four men and four women in the same shell. Great Britain took the historic win, underlining their dominance in team boats and the promise of this new gender-inclusive category.

In the PR3 mixed double sculls, the Dutch crew stunned the field with a new world best time, proving the depth of talent in para-rowing. Uruguay made headlines by securing its first-ever World Rowing Cup gold in the lightweight men’s single sculls — a landmark achievement for the growing South American rowing scene.

Across the Olympic boat classes, the Netherlands and Italy showcased depth and consistency, particularly in the men’s and women’s quadruple sculls. Great Britain continued its strong form in the men’s four and women’s pair, while China impressed in the women’s single sculls with powerful performances.

The regatta also served as a key benchmark for many crews as they build towards post-Paris campaigns. Perfect racing conditions on Lago di Varese contributed to fast times and tight finishes, making this a memorable and impactful start to the 2025 World Rowing season.