Pritchard retains rowing world title in Amsterdam

Ben Pritchard of Wales secured his second consecutive PR1 men’s single sculls world title at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, delivering a commanding performance in the final on Sunday.

The 34-year-old para-rower from Mumbles, near Swansea, finished the 1,000-metre race in 8 minutes 50.46 seconds, setting a new championship record. His time was just under nine seconds slower than the world record he set at the 2025 European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria (8:40.38), reinforcing his status as the sport’s preeminent PR1 athlete.

Pritchard’s race saw a tight start, with Italy’s Giacomo Perini and Australia’s Erik Horrie closing the gap around the 500-metre mark. However, Pritchard extended his lead in the second half, ultimately winning by 6.81 seconds ahead of second-placed Perini. Horrie took bronze.

This victory follows Pritchard’s recent success at the 2026 European Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy, where he claimed gold weeks after overcoming a training injury. His dominance in the PR1 category has also included Paralympic gold in 2024, making him one of para-rowing’s most decorated athletes.

The championships in Amsterdam were not without challenges. Severe thunderstorms on Friday delayed several semi-finals, disrupting athletes’ recovery schedules and adding unpredictability to the event. Pritchard described his win as a "story of calamities," reflecting both the weather disruptions and the heightened competition.

He told World Rowing that rivals are improving rapidly, particularly in the first 500 metres. "But you've just got to try and back yourself, back all the training that you do," he said.

Pritchard trains regularly on the River Tawe near his Swansea home, where he praised the local conditions as ideal for preparation. The 2025 BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year award winner continues to train in challenging Welsh weather, which he playfully described as "some liquid sunshine."

His sustained success highlights the growing competitiveness in para-rowing and the increasing depth among PR1 athletes globally.

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