Historic gold: Uzbekistan’s rowers become world champions in Amsterdam (+video)

Uzbekistan has achieved a historic milestone in rowing as Shahzod Nurmatov and Sobir Safaroliyev secured the nation's first-ever senior World Rowing Championships medal. The duo claimed the gold in the men's lightweight double sculls at the 2026 championships held in Amsterdam, finishing the final race in 6 minutes, 21.93 seconds.

The Uzbekistani pair demonstrated exceptional performance, leading the race from the beginning. They established a lead of about two seconds by the 500-meter mark and extended their advantage to around six seconds by the 1,500-meter mark. This strong performance allowed them to hold off a late challenge from the German crew.

Germany's Naveen Alexander Shah and Maximilian Ruehling earned the silver medal with a time of 6:23.87, while the United States' Jamie Copus and Sean Richardson secured the bronze medal at 6:27.45. India finished in fourth place, followed by the Netherlands and Brazil.

This victory is particularly significant as it represents Uzbekistan's debut medal at the senior World Rowing Championships. While Uzbek athletes have previously won medals at youth world championships and World Cup events, this achievement marks a new pinnacle for the country's rowing program. Nurmatov expressed the team's pride, dedicating the medal to the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence.

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This is the first medal for Uzbekistan. The competition was exciting and intense. We dedicate this medal to the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence. Because this is history, it’s the first time in history. Our coach helped us a lot.