The curtain officially falls on the Coastal Rowing World Championships in Genoa. With the second award ceremony for the World Beach Sprint Finals, the second weekend of the double global event on San Nazaro Beach has come to a close. The event was followed with great enthusiasm by the Genoese community, with a large audience even watching directly from Corso Italia.

During the first weekend, the World Endurance Championships took place, a global club competition that kicked off the main event in the program of Genoa European Capital of Sport 2024. The second weekend, just concluded, saw the World Beach Sprint Finals, a discipline included in the Olympic program starting from Los Angeles 2028 and having its first World Finals with the official status of an Olympic sport.

The double World Championships at San Nazaro attracted more than a thousand athletes from over 50 nations across all five continents, making a significant impact both in terms of tourism and promotion for the city of Genoa. A major event that put the city at the center of the rowing world, turning it into the global capital of the sport for two weeks.

Noteworthy among the sporting results of the weekend was the outstanding performance of the Italian crew composed of Silvia Tripi from Elpis Genova and Federico Ceccarini from CC Napoli. The Italian pair, cheered on by the Genoese crowd, won a remarkable silver medal in the mixed double and the title of World Vice-Champions, finishing just behind Lithuania in a final that was decided at the last breath.

“With a clear mind, these will surely be tears of joy,” said Silvia Tripi at the end of the final. “I really felt the support of my city, my friends, and my family, and I am deeply grateful to them. Competing in Genoa, my city, in such a high-level competition has been incredibly emotional.”

“We beat some top-level competitors,” said Federico Ceccarini. “We were only behind the one crew that has beaten us this year. We trained hard, had intense months, and gave it our all, spending the whole summer together. The people here mean the world to us, and while you always aim for gold, I’m the kind of person who celebrates what I win and doesn’t regret what I didn’t get. So, we’re very happy!”

Numerous sports and administrative authorities attended the second award ceremony on Corso Italia, including Jean-Christophe Rolland, President of World Rowing; Flavio Siniscalchi, Head of the Department for Sport; Marco Bucci, Mayor of Genoa; Alessandra Bianchi, Councilor for Sport of the Municipality of Genoa; Giuseppe Abbagnale, President of the Italian Rowing Federation; Saverio Cecchi, President of Confindustria Nautica; and Giambattista Ponzetto, Deputy Commander of the Genoa Coast Guard.

“We are proud to have hosted such a major event as the Coastal Rowing World Championships in Genoa, which put our city at the center of the international sports scene,” said Marco Bucci, Mayor of Genoa. “These days of competition not only provided unique emotions for the athletes and the public, but also demonstrated how ready Genoa is to host world-class sports events. The success of this event is the result of the joint effort between institutions, organizers, and the Genoese community, who responded with great enthusiasm and participation. Genoa confirms itself as a dynamic and open city, capable of excellently combining sport, tourism, and culture. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this extraordinary achievement.”

“With the Coastal Rowing and Beach Sprint World Championships, Genoa has once again proven to be the perfect stage for major international sports events,” said Alessandra Bianchi, Councilor for Sport of the Municipality of Genoa. “We are proud that the Olympic dream of the Beach Sprint athletes has officially started from our city, giving us intense, adrenaline-filled, and exciting races. For them, it was also an opportunity to discover our city, starting with our historic center and its Rolli Palaces.”

“Genoa responded admirably to the organization of a unique World Championship, giving us two weekends of great spectacle, despite the weather trying to disrupt the Organizing Committee’s plans,” said Giuseppe Abbagnale, President of the Italian Rowing Federation. “Coastal rowing and beach sprint are experiencing a launch phase in the world of rowing, both in Italy and globally, and Genoa can be proud and satisfied for having organized this World Championship, which indeed represents the first step toward the Olympic future for beach sprint, on the road to Los Angeles 2028.”

“I am deeply grateful to the city of Genoa for hosting these World Championships, an event of fundamental importance for World Rowing and coastal rowing in particular, a new Olympic discipline,” said Jean-Christophe Rolland, President of World Rowing. “Despite some difficulties related to the weather, which athletes in this discipline must face, the event was a success, and we received great responses from both athletes and the public. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the organization of this complex event. We have successfully completed this challenge.”

“Organizing an event of this magnitude was an honor and a challenge that we faced with passion and determination,” said Marco Dodero, President of the Organizing Committee. “The Coastal Rowing World Championship in Genoa marked a turning point for our city, and I am immensely proud of the work done by the entire organizing team. The success of these two weeks is the result of a collective effort that saw collaboration between institutions, federations, and volunteers, all united by the desire to offer an unforgettable experience to athletes and fans. Genoa has proven to be the ideal stage for high-level sports, and we are certain that this event will leave an important legacy for the future of our city. Thank you, Marco Bucci, thank you, Giuseppe Abbagnale!”

Here are the results from the two days of the World Beach Sprint Finals:

PR3 Mixed Double Sculls Final: Colin Wallace, Natacha Searson (GBR)
Junior Men’s Solo: Yuqi Yang (CHN)
Junior Women’s: Annelise Hahl (USA)
Mixed Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Rosa Thomson, Charles Cousins, Heather Gordon, Cameron Buchan, Ryan Glymond (GBR)
Mixed Double Sculls: Dominykas Jancionis, Martyna Kazlauskaite (LTU)
Junior Men’s Double Sculls: Andres Washington Aguilar Bedon, Marco Liarte Samper (ESP)
Junior Women’s Double Sculls: Annelise Hahl, Annalie Duncomb (USA)
Junior Mixed Double Sculls: Sol Chamberlain-Hyde, Leah Saunders (GBR)
Men’s Solo: Christopher Bak (USA)
Women’s Solo: Magdalena Lobnig (AUT)