World Rowing President discusses beach sprint Olympic debut

World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland expressed confidence in the future of beach sprint rowing following the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao, China. The discipline is scheduled to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Beach sprint is a knockout format of coastal rowing that involves athletes running on sand, jumping into boats, racing through buoy-marked sections in open water, and sprinting back to the beach to finish. Rolland noted that the sport's appeal lies in its fast-paced, unpredictable nature caused by wave conditions, which is intended to attract new audiences to the sport.