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Hamburg Rowing Team Shines at an Extraordinary German Junior Championships in Krefeld
From June 25 to 28, 2026, the German U17/U19/U23 Youth and Age-Group Championships were held at Elfrather See in Krefeld—under conditions that made this championship special even before the first race began. Essen had originally been designated as the host city. However, due to an exceptionally heavy growth of aquatic vegetation in Lake Baldeney—particularly along the regatta course between the 1,200- and 2,000-meter marks—the championships were moved to Krefeld at the last minute. For the German Rowing Association, the top priority was ensuring fair competition conditions and the full course length.
The second challenge awaited right at the regatta venue: Krefeld turned into a battle against the heat. At Elfrather See, temperatures at times rose to as high as 40 degrees—conditions that affected every race, every warm-up, and every recovery session. Anyone competing here had to not only hold their own against the competition but also cope with the extraordinary physical strain. As a result, the schedule was adjusted several times; repechage heats and lane-assignment races were canceled, and many events were moved to earlier in the day.
Against this backdrop, Hamburg’s rowing program delivered an outstandingly strong overall performance. Across all age groups, Hamburg athletes competed in finals, won titles, earned medals in single and team boats, and established themselves as candidates for international competition. Particularly impressive: Hamburg wasn’t just successful in isolated events, but made its presence felt across the entire spectrum—from the U17 and U19 categories all the way up to the U23 level.
U17: Two Wins in the Eights Send a Strong Message
Hamburg’s youth teams made a big splash in the U17 division. The Alster Club won both the Junior Girls’ Eight B and the Junior Boys’ Eight B—a double victory that impressively demonstrates the breadth and quality of Hamburg’s youth development program.
The junior women’s eight, featuring Anjuli Sarkar, Hannah Minkler, Marie-Lou Berghäuser, Rahel Sabrowski, Frieda Pesch, Antonia Saamer, Sophia Hirtz, Kyra Dippe, and coxswain Karlotta Roggan took control early on and won the 1,500-meter race in 4:51.76 minutes. Just a few minutes later, the junior men’s eight followed suit: Lias Kern, Antoine Ulrichs, Friedrich Berderow, Julius Jonah Fischer, Bendix Lindae, Benedikt Albers, Tristan Menzlow, Nils Krauer, and coxswain Lisa Marie Meinicke prevailed in a close final by a margin of 0.99 seconds.
Hamburg was also consistently in the running for medals in the other U17 races. Frieda Pesch and Antonia Saamer rowed to third place in the Junior Women’s Double Sculls B—in a race where the top four boats crossed the finish line within just 1.85 seconds of each other. Benedikt Albers and Bendix Lindae finished second in the junior men’s double sculls B, after having been in the lead at the 1,000-meter mark.
Bronze medals also went to Friedrich Berderow, Julius Jonah Fischer, Lias Kern, Antoine Ulrichs, and Lisa Marie Meinicke in the junior coxed four B, as well as to Marie-Lou Berghäuser, Hannah Minkler, Sophia Hirtz, and Kyra Dippe in the junior women’s coxless four B. The competition was particularly close in the lightweight division: Nil Prigge and Finn Lenzner took bronze in the junior lightweight double sculls B, finishing just 1.82 seconds behind the gold medalists. In the lightweight junior coxed four B, Silas Norwin Giesecke, Nil Prigge, Finn Lenzner, Simon Hornig, and coxswain Levin Städtler finished third—just 0.13 seconds behind silver and 1.44 seconds behind the gold medal.
Tristan Menzlow and Nils Krauer rounded out the strong U17 performance with a silver medal in the junior coxless pair B. Particularly noteworthy: Hamburg was among the frontrunners in all disciplines for the B-junior women and B-junior men and secured medals for all its top development boats. For the first time since the event’s inception, both eights were won; the junior eight went to Hamburg for the third consecutive time. The DRV Youth Cup also remained in Hamburg’s hands—as in previous years.
U19: Titles in key boat classes and a direct path to the national team
In the U19 division, Hamburg demonstrated not only depth but, above all, quality in the key competitive boats. Several races were directly relevant to the future composition of the junior team—and that is precisely where Hamburg’s athletes made a strong impression.
Oskar Müller of the Wandsbek Rowing Club won the Junior Men’s Single Sculls A race in commanding fashion. He led at every split time and won by a margin of 7.05 seconds. Maria Pesch and Charlotte Paulat of the Alster-RV Hanseat also won the Junior Women’s Coxless Pair A race convincingly. They, too, led their final from the start and ultimately prevailed by a margin of 8.99 seconds.
Yoan Ivanov and Henrik Möller claimed another title in the Junior Coxless Four A. As part of a racing alliance with RC Potsdam and WSV Königs Wusterhausen, the boat won by a margin of 3.85 seconds. In the Junior Eight A, Ivanov and Möller once again demonstrated their strength: The winning boat led at every split time and won the final U19 race of the day.
Hamburg was also well represented in the junior women’s division. Kaya Wölk won gold in the junior women’s quadruple sculls A and had previously won silver in the junior women’s double sculls A alongside Greta Amort. Helene Sophie Siemssen finished third in the junior women’s double sculls A. Sofia Tatsis won bronze in the junior women’s quadruple sculls A.
In the junior coxed four A, Julius Engelmann and Richard Bruno Christophers rowed to second place as part of a joint team with LRV Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Lübecker RG—just 1.75 seconds behind the gold medalists. Per Linus Petersen and Jonas Kursawe finished second in the lightweight junior double sculls A and repeated that finish later in the lightweight junior quadruple sculls A.
Additional medals went to Lynn Jördis Bäcker, who won bronze in the Junior Women’s Coxless Pair A; to Lena Dwars, Julie Neubauer, and Lucy Franzius, who won bronze in the Junior Women’s Coxed Four A; and to Moritz Tomforde, who won bronze in the Junior Men’s Single Sculls A.
This record is particularly valuable in light of the team’s international commitments. Oskar Müller, Maria Pesch, Charlotte Paulat, Henrik Möller, and Yoan Ivanov have been directly selected for the U19 World Championship. Friedrich Kaiser and Friedrich Dunkel have been named as coaches. The rest of the squad for the U19 World Championship or Coupe de la Jeunesse includes Kaya Wölk, Sofia Tatsis, Moritz Tomforde, Julius Engelmann, Richard Christophers, Lynn Bäcker, and Helene Siemssen.
U23: Maturity, Competitiveness, and Ability to Compete Internationally
The U23 division showcased the full strength of Hamburg rowing as it transitions from the junior to the competitive level: many medals, numerous racing teams with Hamburg participation, and several races that were decided only in the final meters.
A sporting highlight was the final in the women’s coxless four. B. Melisa Mujic won gold with her crew—just 0.32 seconds ahead of the boat with Nike Utesch and Daniela Thiermann. It came down to the very last strokes.
The Men’s Single Sculls B race was also a nail-biter. Jesse Ilsemann led at the 500-, 1,000-, and 1,500-meter marks, but was ultimately defeated by 1.55 seconds at the finish line. This silver medal means more than just a placing: it was a race that remained up for grabs until the very end.
It was also a particularly close race in the women’s coxless pair B: Raphaela Werner and Lene Holkenbrink finished in second place, missing the championship title by just 1.06 seconds. The fact that they were not yet back to full strength after a prolonged bout of a cold makes this performance all the more remarkable.
Other U23 titles won by Hamburg rowers included the men’s coxed four B, with Hugo Thomas, Matti Thomas, and Jette Hansen, as well as the men’s lightweight coxless pair B, with Thore Kumutat and Julius Lünenborg. Kumutat and Lünenborg were also part of the winning men’s lightweight eight B. Jonas Düse, Safa Alexander Cuny, and Lucy Franzius took bronze in that race.
In the Men’s Eight B, Leonardo Rosenquist won gold; Ben Tazir was also in the winning boat. Max Gillmann, Matti Thomas, Hugo Thomas, and Jette Hansen rowed to third place in another boat with Hamburg representation. In the women’s eight B, Nike Utesch and Daniela Thiermann won gold; Lene Holkenbrink, Gesa Junge, and Melisa Mujic took second place, and Aenne zum Felde won bronze.
There were also medals in the double and sculling events: Thorben Mellwig placed third in the men’s lightweight double sculls B, Anna Yuri Koseki won bronze in the women’s quadruple sculls B, and Jesse Ilsemann placed second in the men’s quadruple sculls B.
The U23 results have direct international implications: Nike Utesch and Daniela Thiermann have been nominated for the U23 World Championships in the women’s eight, Melisa Mujic in the women’s coxless four, Leonardo Rosenquist in the men’s eight, and Jesse Ilsemann in the men’s single sculls. Lene Holkenbrink has been named as an alternate.
Hamburg Shows What It Has Achieved
This DJM was more than just a championship with medals. It was a stress test—organizationally, climatically, and athletically. The last-minute relocation, the extreme heat at Elfrather See, the adjusted schedules, and the condensed race schedule demanded a great deal from everyone involved. At the same time, under these very conditions, the Hamburg boats demonstrated just how consistent the work at the training centers, in the clubs, and in the training groups has become.
The U17 team impressed with its depth and by winning both eight titles. The U19 team won in key boat classes and provided several athletes for direct national team selection or squad formation. The U23 team demonstrated competitive tenacity, the ability to reach finals, and the potential to compete at the international level.
For rowing in Hamburg, this German Junior Championship sends a strong message: the youth development program is paying off, the top athletes are performing well—and many of Hamburg’s athletes have shown in Krefeld that they are ready for the challenges ahead.
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