The double home advantage and the question of all questions

Once again, the crème de la crème of world rowing has traveled to Lucerne. Around 600 athletes from 44 nations will be competing in 18 boat classes at the second and final World Cup of the year. In addition, there will be 18 athletes from 9 nations in para-rowing, making the LUCERNE REGATTA fully inclusive for the second time. “This is the next step on the way to an inclusive World Championships in 2027,” said a delighted Director Timon Wernas at the traditional media appearance. The regatta is also very important because it is in fact already the main rehearsal before the World Championships, which will take place in Shanghai in September.

Ahumada/Schätzle are now the hunted

The host nation is not only prominently represented in terms of numbers. The double scull with Raphaël Ahumada and local hero Kai Schätzle set a first exclamation mark in this post-Olympic season ten days ago with their victory at the World Cup in Varese and will once again be competing against a large field and 23 opposing duos.

The men’s pair with Patrick Brunner/Jonah Plock also showed strong form in Varese with a podium finish. They will be able to undergo a real test of form, as the 19 competitors include the Romanians, the European champions from Plovdiv, and the New Zealanders, the winners from Varese. If the Swiss manage a similar second half of the race as they did in Italy, they should be able to have a say in the competition for victory.

More home advantage is not possible

Salome Ulrich and Fabienne Schweizer will enjoy the greatest possible home advantage this weekend. One grew up in Ebikon, the other in Buchrain, so the Rotsee is within striking distance for both of them and the two long-time boatmates want to build on their performance in Varese, where they finished 5th in the double sculls, if possible. “However, the ranking is not the only thing that matters,” says Salome Ulrich, “we simply want to translate our training performance into the competition as well as possible.”

Lisa Lötscher has got back on track

Two other members of Swiss Rowing’s historic double four project make up the double without. Lisa Lötscher and Célia Dupré won the B final in the very strong competition in Varese. “After just five days of training together,” emphasized association director Christian Stofer. Now that Dupré’s year of study in the USA is over, a few more sessions have been added and Lisa Lötscher says: “Things are going in the right direction.”

After Paris, Megger took a three-month break, during which she worked full-time and thought about her future. Towards the end of the year, her desire for the sport returned and since January she has been training again in the association structures in Sarnen. Motivated as ever.

Claire Ghiringhelli is also very motivated. The Ticino native recently won a bronze medal at the Para-European Championships, which had a historic dimension: never before had a Swiss para-rower won an international medal. “I was a little disappointed that I didn’t win silver because of a very stupid mistake, but I was very happy about the medal and now I want to go all out again,” says Ghiringhelli.

No more hopeful runs….

On the “Göttersee”, as the Lucerne waters are almost reverently called in rowing circles, a few things are likely to be different this year than in the past. There is a new progression system, which means that the hope heats will no longer take place. As the lightweight categories will no longer be Olympic in Los Angeles, there has been a major bloodletting here. This is particularly noticeable in the lightweight double sculls, as Timon Wernas illustrates: “Previously there were 70 to 90 participants in this category, now there are 0.”

…but a cool Pimm’s

Temperatures are expected to reach record levels again at the weekend, but cooling off and culinary delights will be provided around the regatta site. The catering has been expanded, and Pimm’s, the British cult drink, is a new addition to the menu.

An attractive supporting program and the question of all questions

A visit to the Rotsee is definitely worthwhile, even away from the racing action around the lake. From children’s face painting to concerts: the organizers have once again spared no effort to ensure that the LUCERNE REGATTA lives up to its reputation as the “Wimbledon of rowing” in 2025.

And finally, the rowing question of all rowing questions will be answered these days: who is faster, Roman Röösli or Andrin Gulich? The two giants will compete in a 250 m ergometer showdown on Saturday at 5.30 pm on Kapellplatz.