NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Three members from the Yale women's crew team have been selected to race for their respective countries at the 2026 European Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy on July 31 through August 2.
Yale selections include:
Valia Lykomitrou '29: Greek 4x
Christina Bourmpou '26: Greek 4x
Gabriela Tivodariu '30: Romanian 4-
The European Rowing Championships, one of the oldest continental sporting events, have a history dating back to 1893. Since their inaugural edition, which featured just three men's races, the championships have evolved into a premier international rowing competition.
The championships were held almost annually from 1893 until 1973, when they were replaced by the World Rowing Championships. Reintroduced to the international rowing calendar in 2007, the event has continued to grow in prominence. Since moving to an early-season position in 2013, the European Rowing Championships have become a key fixture in the international rowing calendar and an important benchmark for many European teams.
Varese, located in northern Italy approximately 55 km north of Milan, lies at the foot of the Campo dei Fiori mountain range overlooking Lake Varese. The venue has established itself as one of the world's leading rowing destinations, having hosted the Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2007, the European Rowing Championships in 2012 and 2021, the World Rowing Masters Regatta in 2013, the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in 2014, the combined World Rowing U19 & U23 Championships in 2022, and World Rowing Cups in 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
