Shanghai hosts first senior World Rowing Championships in China

The 2025 World Rowing Championships opened on Dianshan Lake in Shanghai on Sunday, bringing more than 700 athletes from 56 nations to compete across 23 boat classes in a regatta that runs through September 28. Organizers said the event marks the first senior world championships held in China and, for the first time in the sport's history at this level, includes mixed double sculls and mixed eights on the program.

Racing began in cool tailwind conditions but variable weather including crosswinds forced at least one schedule change during the first week. Rowing Ireland said the men's double sculls semifinal, featuring Philip Doyle and two time Olympic champion Fintan McCarthy, had been postponed due to weather and lane reallocation; the pair had earlier won their opening heat to qualify for the semifinal. Race organizers set a new start time for the delayed semifinal, while other heats and finals continued as planned.

Great Britain posted early success, with four crews progressing from the opening day and several advancing to A finals later in the week. The British men's quadruple sculls and women's quadruple sculls won their heats, while the women's pair and men's pair moved on...