World Rowing can rub its hands together: indoor rowing is gaining ground and taking full advantage of the virtual push. The international rowing body has confirmed that the next World Rowing Championships in virtual mode, scheduled for February 25-26, 2022, will feature finalists from 66 countries. The event is organized by World Rowing and Concept2 for the second year in a row. Finalists have qualified through one of the 19 World Rowing events or individually. The cast of finalists is very diverse, with traditional rowers, CrossFit enthusiasts, former NFL players including Matt Stankiewitch (New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaquars), and throwing athletes. The competition will also feature disabled rowing races in three categories over 500 and 2,000 meters. The oldest person to compete at the Worlds is a Frenchman, Georges Basse, 96 years old. The event was originally scheduled to be held in hybrid mode in Hamburg, Germany, but the global pandemic forced World Rowing to a strictly virtual version.
