Oliver Zeidler eyes European rowing title with revamped training

German Olympic champion Oliver Zeidler, 30, entered the 2026 European Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy, after winning two World Cup races this season, including a victory in Luzern. Having completed his university studies at the end of 2025, Zeidler and his father overhauled his training programme, increasing mileage while lowering intensity, to extract additional performance ahead of the event.

Zeidler, who won a silver medal at the World Championships in Shanghai the previous year, described the European Championships as a "benchmark" and emphasized his shift in mindset, stating he now feels less like the hunted target and more like the driver of expectations. His chief rivals include Belarusian rower Yauheni Zalaty, who competes under a neutral flag, and Greek world champion Stefanos Ntouskos. Zeidler hopes the competition will match or exceed his recent world‑championship podium, and he is targeting a personal best time on the Lago di Varese course.