The 2026 World Rowing Shanghai Sprints delivered thrills and spills, with head-to-head 500-meter races on a course with a bend in a major city's center.
Olympic hopefuls across the country are back on the water and restarting the Covid-stalled Tokyo Olympic campaign. But the constant battle to halt the spread of the deadly virus means continued social distancing, and that means singles only rowing through the summer. Could that mean more competitive U.S. sculling crews in the future?
As Covid restrictions ease across the country, the rowing community is learning how to get back on the water in the safest, most efficient ways–and finding that rowing in singles is the best solution to achieving both goals.
The 2026 World Rowing Shanghai Sprints delivered thrills and spills, with head-to-head 500-meter races on a course with a bend in a major city's center.
The inaugural World Rowing Shanghai Sprints takes place on 26-27 September 2026 in Shanghai, China, bringing together some of the biggest names in international rowing for a fast-paced weekend of head-to-head racing. Rowers compete over a 500-meter course in a knockout format, with crews racing head-to-head through successive rounds to determine the overall winners.
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