Greece capped a successful campaign at the 2026 European Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy, by winning one gold medal and two bronze medals on the final day of competition, finishing fifth in the overall medal standings.
The standout performance came from Petros Gaidatzis, who captured gold in the men’s lightweight single sculls, while Olympic champion Stefanos Ntouskos added another European medal to his impressive collection with bronze in the men’s single sculls. Gabriela Lioliou also claimed bronze in the women’s lightweight single sculls.
Petros Gaidatzis Wins European Title
Twenty-five-year-old Petros Gaidatzis, who won bronze alongside Antonis Papakonstantinou in the lightweight double sculls at the Paris Olympics, delivered a commanding performance in the men’s lightweight single sculls final.
Gaidatzis crossed the finish line in 6:50.92, securing his first European title in the event.
Stefanos Ntouskos Extends Remarkable Medal Streak
Olympic champion Stefanos Ntouskos continued his remarkable consistency by winning bronze in the men’s single sculls.
Ntouskos, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo and the world title in Shanghai in 2025, finished third in 6:40.97, earning his fifth consecutive European Championship medal since 2022.
Germany’s Oliver Zeidler claimed the gold medal in 6:36.39, while Belarusian rower Yauheni Zalaty took silver in 6:39.94.
Gabriela Lioliou Adds Third Medal for Greece
Gabriela Lioliou completed Greece’s medal haul with bronze in the women’s lightweight single sculls.
Lioliou led the race through the opening 500 meters and remained among the leaders throughout before finishing third in 7:39.14.
Austria’s Maria Zowner won gold in 7:30.47, while the Netherlands’ Tosca Kettler claimed silver in 7:36.58.
Greece Finishes Fifth in Medal Table
Greece concluded the championships with five medals overall—one gold, two silver, and two bronze—placing fifth in the final medal standings.
Germany topped the table with 11 medals (five gold, five silver, one bronze), followed by Romania (five gold, one silver, one bronze) and Great Britain (five gold and one silver).
The performance continues Greece’s strong tradition in international rowing, highlighted in recent years by Olympic and world championship success and the emergence of a new generation of medal-winning athletes.
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