Shanghai is buzzing with excitement as more than 1,200 rowers from 50+ countries converge on the Huangpu River for the 2025 World Rowing Championships. From September 21 to 28, this landmark event marks the city’s first fully integrated regatta, where para and Olympic athletes race side by side.
For competitors like Brazil’s lightweight sculler Ana Souza, the Shanghai regatta is a pivotal step toward the Paris Games. “Racing alongside para athletes in one fleet pushes us all to new heights,” she says, highlighting the unifying power of sport.
Organizers have leveraged cutting-edge digital tracking and live streaming to bring every stroke into focus. Fans from G20 capitals to remote villages can follow splits, stroke rates, and real-time rankings on mobile apps, making rowing more accessible and engaging than ever.
Beyond the competition, Shanghai showcases sustainability initiatives: solar-powered scoreboards, a plastic-free athlete village, and riverbank clean-up volunteer drives. These efforts reflect a growing movement among young global citizens to blend sport with social impact.
As the finals approach, the battle for Olympic quotas intensifies. Winning a seat in Paris means more than glory—it’s a platform for athletes to inspire change, advocate for disability rights, and connect cultures through shared passion. In Shanghai, every oar stroke carries the hopes of a generation dreaming big.
Reference(s):
Top rowers unite in Shanghai as athletes chase Olympic qualification
cgtn.com
