Antalya, Türkiye – October 15, 2025 — As part of its ongoing commitment to growing the sport, World Rowing and European Rowing continue to provide development opportunities for targeted Member Federations (MFs) in need of support. These initiatives aim to help athletes and crews from developing rowing nations gain valuable experience and compete at World and Continental level events.
Within the framework of the European Rowing Development Programme, and thanks to the generous support of the 2025 Antalya European Rowing Coastal and Beach Sprint Championships Organising Committee, several target nations received assistance to participate in this year’s event.
The supported countries were Cyprus, Malta, Finland, and Greece, with a total of seven athletes and four coaches benefitting from the programme in Antalya.
The teams competed in the Beach Sprint competition, held from Saturday, 11 October to Sunday, 12 October 2025, on the stunning Mediterranean coastline of Antalya, Türkiye. Racing began with time trials early on Saturday morning at 08:00, setting the tone for two days of fast-paced coastal action.
Representing Cyprus, Evgenia Maria Polycarpou and Georgios Antoniou competed in the Coastal Under 19 Mixed Double (CJMix2x), placing 12th in the time trial and therefore not advancing to the next round of racing.
For Greece, Iasonas Mouselimis raced in the Coastal Under 19 Men’s Solo (CJMS1x), finishing 15th in the time trial and advancing to face the Italian rower in the knockout round, where he was eliminated. Eva Boga also represented Greece in the Coastal Under 19 Women’s Solo (CJWS1x), placing 19th in the time trial and moving on to face an Individual Neutral Athlete, where she too was eliminated.
From Finland, Ilona Mäkelä competed in the same women’s solo category, placing 22nd in the time trial, just behind Eva Boga. Mäkelä was eliminated in the knockout round by an Italian rower.
Malta was represented by Mark Schembri in the Coastal Men’s Solo (CMS1x), who placed last in the time trial, and Leanne Xuereb Ungaro, who raced in the Coastal Women’s Solo (CWS1x) but did not finish her race.
These experiences were of great importance for the participating nations, which continue to build their programmes and strengthen their crews in preparation for qualifiying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where the Beach Sprint format will make its Olympic debut.
The World Rowing Development Programme remains dedicated to ensuring that athletes from all backgrounds have the opportunity to gain international racing experience, helping to grow the sport and foster the next generation of coastal rowers across Europe.
Representing Cyprus, Evgenia Maria Polycarpou and Georgios Antoniou competed in the Coastal Under 19 Mixed Double (CJMix2x), placing 12th in the time trial and therefore not advancing to the next round of racing.
For Greece, Iasonas Mouselimis raced in the Coastal Under 19 Men’s Solo (CJMS1x), finishing 15th in the time trial and advancing to face the Italian rower in the knockout round, where he was eliminated.Eva Boga also represented Greece in the Coastal Under 19 Women’s Solo (CJWS1x), placing 19th in the time trial and moving on to face an Individual Neutral Athlete, where she too was eliminated.
From Finland, Ilona Mäkelä competed in the same women’s solo category, placing 22nd in the time trial, just behind Eva Boga. Mäkelä was eliminated in the knockout round by an Italian rower.
Malta was represented by Mark Schembri in the Coastal Men’s Solo (CMS1x), who placed last in the time trial, and Leanne Xuereb Ungaro, who raced in the Coastal Women’s Solo (CWS1x) but did not finish her race.