Four Medals Earned by Ukrainian Rowers at the European Coastal Rowing Championships

Outstanding Performance by Ukrainian Rowers at the European Coastal Rowing Championships

According to НОК: At the European Coastal Rowing Championships held in La Línea, Spain, Ukrainian athletes distinguished themselves by securing four medals across coastal rowing and beach sprint events. The competition featured 263 rowers representing 35 countries, including a Ukrainian team of 14 competitors.

Medal Highlights for Ukraine

The Ukrainian delegation's achievements included:

• A gold medal in the women's coastal double sculls, won by Kateryna Dudchenko and Yevheniia Dovhodko.
• A silver medal in the women's coastal single sculls, earned by Kateryna Dudchenko.
• Silver medals in the men's coastal coxed four, awarded to Andriy Derevyanchuk, Yurii Ivanov, Oleksandr Nadtoka, Artem Verestiuk, and Ivan Dovhodko.
• A bronze medal in the mixed junior (U19) beach sprint double, claimed by Kseniia Ratushniak and Maksym Syvko.

Coastal rowing, the discipline in which the Ukrainian team excelled, involves longer distances on open water and is not currently part of the Olympic program. In contrast, beach sprint rowing, which debuted at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, consists of short-distance races starting and finishing on sandy beaches. The qualification period for beach sprint at the 2028 Olympics will begin in 2027. This exciting new format will also feature at the IV Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar from October 31 to November 13, 2026, where Ukraine is set to send two athletes.

These results highlight Ukraine's growing strength and competitiveness in international rowing competitions. The success at this European championship points to positive developments within the country's rowing programs and bodes well for their preparations for future international contests, including the Olympic Games. Furthermore, the achievements underscore the importance of investing in young athletes and emerging rowing disciplines that may become integral to the Olympic movement going forward.