Oliver Zeidler wins fourth single sculls world title in Amsterdam

Zeidler secures fourth world title

Oliver Zeidler won his fourth world championship gold medal in the men's single sculls on Sunday at the Bosbaan regatta course in Amsterdam. The 30-year-old Olympic champion from Paris finished the 2,000-meter course in 6:35.22 to conclude an undefeated international season. Zeidler broke clear of the field within the opening 500 meters and maintained his lead through the finish line. Yauheni Zalaty of Belarus, competing under a neutral flag, took silver in 6:38.33, finishing 3.11 seconds behind. Norway's Jonas Slettemark Juel secured bronze in 6:44.03, crossing 8.81 seconds behind Zeidler.

Zeidler credited his race management and finish before joining his family and girlfriend Sofia to celebrate at the venue.

I had a very good rhythm - and was able to pull off a sprint at the end.

Single sculls title milestones

The victory adds to Zeidler's world title collection following previous wins in 2019, 2022, and 2023. At the 2025 world championships in Shanghai, Zeidler took silver behind Stefanos Ntouskos of Greece after reducing his training schedule to focus on university studies in Lausanne. Ntouskos missed the A-final in Amsterdam and placed tenth overall. Four weeks prior to Amsterdam, Zeidler won his fourth European championship title in Varese, Italy, with a championship record time of 6:36.39. Zeidler targeted the world best time of 6:30.74 set by New Zealand's Robert Manson in 2017, though his winning time in Amsterdam fell short of that mark.

Zeidler is now one title away from the record of five world titles in the men's single sculls, shared by Peter Michael Kolbe, Mahe Drysdale, and Ondrej Synek.

Drawing level with them would of course be great.

Para-rowing titles and additional German medals

The German Rowing Association gathered several additional podium finishes during the regatta in Amsterdam. In para-rowing, Kathrin Marchand and Valentin Luz defended their world title in the PR3 mixed double sculls on Friday evening. Their race had been delayed by one hour after thunderstorms and heavy rain interrupted regatta operations. On Thursday, European champions Jasmina Bier and Paul Umbach took gold in the PR2 mixed double sculls following a final sprint against defending champions China.

Marchand noted that course conditions influenced the final times on the water.

It was really good water, but because of the tailwind it wasn't enough for a world best time.

Germany also secured two silver medals. On Saturday, the men's quadruple sculls crew of Marc Weber, Felix Heinrich, Jonas Gelsen, and Ole Hohensee placed second behind Italy. In the non-Olympic lightweight men's double sculls, Maximilian Rühling and Naveen Shah took silver behind Uzbekistan. In the women's single sculls, 2024 European silver medallist Alexandra Föster won the B-final to finish seventh overall.

Netherlands sets world best in men's eight

In the men's eight, Germany's crew placed fourth, missing a medal by approximately 2.5 seconds. The German crew, stroked by Frederik Breuer, rowed three races in less than 24 hours after semifinals were scheduled on Sunday morning for the first time since 2011. The crew had qualified on Saturday through a wind-affected individual time trial while fielding two substitute rowers due to illness.

Host nation and defending champion Netherlands won the men's eight final in a photo-finish world best time of 5:17.57, breaking the previous mark set by Germany in 2017. Olympic champion Great Britain took silver, while Australia took bronze. Germany finished the 2,000 meters in 5:20.71. The German women's eight placed ninth overall.