Excitement builds as Great Britain’s top rowers prepare for Rowing World Cup in Italy

Great Britain’s top rowers are gearing up for the Rowing World Cup in Italy, with the first regatta of the series set to kick off the season. The event, taking place between 12 and 14 April in Varese, will see 50 British athletes compete for a chance to secure their spots for the upcoming Paris Games.

Among the athletes selected to represent Great Britain are four current world champion crews, including the legendary double Olympic champion Helen Glover. Glover, who is aiming to compete at her fourth Olympics, will be part of the women’s four alongside Esme Booth, Rebecca Shorten, and Sam Redgrave.

The competition will also mark the return of Tokyo 2020 Olympian Graeme Thomas, who will be racing for the first time in 18 months after battling multiple bouts of Covid and back injuries. Thomas expressed his excitement at being selected for the World Cup, acknowledging the hard work that went into his comeback.

With nine of the 14 Olympic boat classes already qualified, GB Rowing will be focusing on finalizing the crews for the Paris Games. In addition to the World Cup series, rowers will have another opportunity to stake their claim for Olympic selection at the European Rowing Championships in Hungary later in April.

British Rowing director of performance Louise Kingsley emphasized the importance of this season in building towards Paris, following a successful 2023 campaign that saw Great Britain top the medal table at the European Championships. Fans can catch all the action live on the BBC, with coverage available on the BBC iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport app, and website.