Two Golds & Two Silvers for BSA Alumni at the European Coastal Rowing Championships
What a weekend it’s been at the European Coastal Rowing Championships in Turkey, with Beach Sprint Academy alumni bringing home an incredible two gold and two silver medals across both endurance and beach sprint events.
Chris Bak (USA) delivered a dominant performance in the endurance solo, taking gold with a commanding lead. His power and precision on the course were unmatched. Although Chris couldn’t compete in the European Beach Sprint Championships due to eligibility rules, his result in the endurance event spoke volumes about his preparation and form heading into the competition.
In the Beach Sprint finals, James Cox of GB Rowing took home gold, narrowly edging out our very own Ander Martín, who claimed silver after a thrilling, nail-biting finish — just 0.8 seconds separating the two athletes. It was a spectacular race that had spectators on their feet from start to finish.
On the women’s side, Laura McKenzie secured silver in the women’s solo, an outstanding achievement for her first time competing in the solo discipline. Her composure and strength throughout the regatta were impressive and promising for future international events.
Between the USA and GB squads, there were strong results across the board, with many athletes finishing inside the top 10 — a testament to the depth of talent on display.
We’re especially proud that all of the athletes trained at Beach Sprint Academy in Torrevieja in the weeks leading up to the Championships. From calm, glassy mornings to unpredictable surf and wind, they experienced the full range of coastal conditions that mirror real race environments. While their performances are entirely their own, there’s no doubt that the time spent training in Torrevieja helped them fine-tune their skills and confidence heading into competition.
Congratulations to all the athletes and teams on an unforgettable weekend of racing. The results are a reflection of the hard work, discipline, and growing global standard in Beach Sprint and Coastal Rowing — and we couldn’t be prouder to see our Academy community represented at this level. Roll on the Worlds!
