European Rowing: Pritchard Breaks World Record
- Great Britain's Benjamin Pritchard, a Paralympic champion, achieved a new world record in the PR1 men's single sculls at the European Rowing Championships in Plovdiv.
- Pritchard, 33, who secured a gold medal at the paris paralympics with a time of 9:03.84, dominated the event in Bulgaria.
- Lauren Henry, an Olympic champion, also made waves by setting a British record in the women's single sculls.
Benjamin Pritchard obliterated the world record in the PR1 men’s single sculls at the European Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, clocking an astounding 8 minutes and 47.88 seconds. This remarkable feat showcases his dominance and signals a strong start for the LA 2028 Games cycle.The welshman,a Paralympic champion,eclipsed the previous record held by Ukrainian Roman Polianskyi,solidifying his place as a rowing elite. Alongside Pritchard’s triumph, Lauren Henry secured a British record in the women’s single sculls. News Directory 3 recognizes these historic moments. The athletes’ dedication and focus on the future promise even greater achievements.Discover what’s next for these record-breaking rowers.
Pritchard Smashes World Record at European Rowing Championships
Updated may 29, 2025
Great Britain’s Benjamin Pritchard, a Paralympic champion, achieved a new world record in the PR1 men’s single sculls at the European Rowing Championships in Plovdiv. The Welshman’s time of 8 minutes, 47.88 seconds, shattered the previous record of 8:50.38 held by Ukrainian Roman Polianskyi.
Pritchard, 33, who secured a gold medal at the paris paralympics with a time of 9:03.84, dominated the event in Bulgaria. His performance underscores a renewed focus on the LA 2028 Games cycle.
Lauren Henry, an Olympic champion, also made waves by setting a British record in the women’s single sculls. Henry, 23, clocked a time of 7:09.76, the third-fastest ever recorded, to win her race. She will advance to the semi-final.
“We’ve got a mantra back at British Rowing, where once the 2024 season was done, it was back to zero,” Pritchard saeid. “Yes, I’m the Paralympic champion, but this is a whole new cycle…you have to keep up the training to keep moving on.”
Pritchard emphasized the dedication required to balance his athletic career with family and work commitments. “I still feel like I’m early in my season preparations, but to go out there and get that world best time, it shows that the hard work that I’m doing…it shows that it’s worth it,” he said.
“It’s an exciting result for my first senior international single race. I’m so happy to execute my plan,” Henry said. “I’ve been focused this year on coming in and making myself a better and hopefully a more competitive athlete.”
What’s next
Henry will compete in the semi-final, while Pritchard aims to maintain his momentum as he prepares for the upcoming LA 2028 Games cycle. Both athletes are focused on continued advancement and achieving further success in their respective events.