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By Martin Cross
Not since American and British residents founded Shanghai Rowing Club in 1863 has the Suzhou Creek seen so much action and excitement from the world of international rowing. The inaugural 2026 World Rowing Shanghai Sprints concluded with a fistful of surprises, including when Team Germany won gold in the mixed eights from the more fancied entries from Team World and Team Netherlands.
The overall trophy went to Team World. Powered on by two wins from Serbia’s Nikolaj Pimenov. The 6’9” sculler took gold in the men’s doubles with his partner Martiin Mackovic. On the final day, Pimenov teamed up with Lithuania’s Viktorija Senkute to win the mixed doubles by the narrowest of margins from a beautifully balanced Team Netherlands crew.
The results mean that Pimenov was the biggest earner from the Shanghai Sprints. Together with appearance money, the Serbian stood to pocket more than 10,000 Euros for his weekend’s work.
Team USA looked set to fire both in the mixed doubles and the mixed eights. In the latter Kate Knifton, who stroked the boat, was partnered by Teal Cohen. Together the two women were half of the four that won gold at the recent world championship. Sam Sullivan and world fours champion, Chris Carlson, promised to add firepower from the seven- and six-seats.
But the sparkle at full-on pace was surprisingly missing. Team USA went out to an early exit against Team World in the quarters. Sophia Vitas and Cedar Cunningham knew they were up against it when they drew the Irish combination of Konan Pazzaia and Mags Cremen—silver medallists in Amsterdam. The Americans made a brave fist of it, but needed more pace and fluidity at max power than they were able to deliver.
Not so Team Germany, who took the brave decision to put two female athletes in the “power seats” of six and five. That allowed the two male specialist scullers, Tom Graenitz and Felix Heinrich, to take their rhythm from the female sweepers in front of them. The Germans enjoyed their quarter-final victory over a British eight that looked for but never quite found the fluidity they needed to fire on all cylinders.
“Through the weekend, we raised our rowing level, race after race, and now, we’ve finished with the gold medal,” said Graenitz. “Winning is always fun. We are athletes and we are here to win. We love that and that’s why we row.”
There’s no doubting that the event was a significant success. The 88 rowers embraced the concept, their fellow competitors, and the city of Shanghai with gusto. One evening, they were treated to an informal address by Jean-Christophe Rolland, the president of World Rowing on the sport’s future and it’s likely longevity in the Olympic movement.
With more events like the World Rowing Shanghai Sprints, the sport has a great chance to punch above its weight in the Olympic program.
