Something new under the World Rowing sun! The World Rowing Congress has decided to review the World Rowing Championships program to remain as dynamic and attractive as possible. As a result, "certain classes of boats which have seen low participation in recent years are eliminated", anda mixed event appears.This “mixed eight” will make its debut at the World Championships in Shanghai (September 21-28) and will be on the program of all World Cup stages from 2026. In its press release, World Rowing speaks of this format as "a serious candidate to be included in the next Olympic Games ».
The instance also abolished the repechage to gain clarity. Qualification will now be decided solely by places or times. For Jean-Christophe Rolland, President of World Rowing, "by updating the progression system and introducing a mixed eight event, we ensure our sport remains relevant and competitive, while making it more exciting and accessible to fans around the world.”.
