World Cup's first test brings international stars to Sevilla

Sevilla, Spain, is set to host the opening event of the 2026 World Cup Rowing season this weekend. The competition will take place on the Guadalquivir River, drawing around 500 athletes from 37 nations who will compete in 215 crews.

The event promises fierce competition, particularly in the single sculls categories. In the men's single sculls, Olympic champion Oliver Zeidler of Germany and world champion Stefanos Ntouskos of Greece are expected to be top contenders. The women's single sculls will also feature a strong lineup, including reigning world champion Fiona Murtagh of Ireland and Olympic champion Karolien Florijn of the Netherlands, marking Florijn's return to international competition since the Paris Games.

Beyond the single sculls, the regatta includes a wide range of boat classes, with both Olympic and world medalists competing alongside emerging talent from the under-23 and under-19 categories. The Spanish national team will be represented by eighteen athletes in eight boats, with fourteen competing in men's events and four in women's events.

This marks a significant return for Sevilla, which previously hosted the World Rowing Championships in 2002 and a World Cup event in 2013. The competition's operational hub will be the La Cartuja High Performance Centre for Rowing and Canoeing, utilizing a six-kilometer course through the city center. The World Cup circuit serves as crucial preparation for the World Championships, featuring all twelve Olympic boat classes and awarding points in each.