Somalia Joins the Field

For the first time in U23 history, Somalia is competing at this regatta. Their sole representative is Abdirahman Hassan, who will race in the Men’s Single Sculls (BM1x) category. His entry is highlighted among debutant nations alongside Malaysia .

🌟 Athlete Profile – Abdirahman Hassan

• Category: U23 Men’s Single Sculls (BM1x)
• Significance: Somalia’s first-ever participation in the U23 championships
• Context: He’s listed among the “crews to watch,” marking Somalia’s entry onto the under‑23 rowing stage .

🏁 Event Overview

• Total nations: 53 entered across 22 boat classes .
• Racing format: Heats → Semifinals → Finals
• Categories include: Lightweight, PR3, singles, doubles, pairs, fours, eights.

🎯 What to Watch

• Hassan will battle strong competitors in BM1x, including seasoned returnees and recent junior medalists
• As Somalia’s first representative in U23 rowing, Hassan’s participation alone marks a historic milestone for Somalia

In summary, the U23 World Rowing Championships in Poznań mark a historic milestone with the debut of Somalia in international under‑23 rowing. Abdirahman Hassan will carry the nation’s flag in the Men’s Single Sculls, stepping onto the global rowing scene for the first time.

Meet the Athlete: Abdirahman Hassan

Hi, my name is Abdirahman Hassan, currently I am rower for Somalia who resides in the UK.

I started rowing at Cardiff University in 2023, the reason I started rowing was to keep up my fitness. I started to fall in love with rowing even with the early mornings wake ups, long enduring training and cold-water training in the winter.

I got called up to Somalia national rowing team in November 2024, where I started training heavily in a single in preparation for the U23 World rowing championships.

During this period, Cardiff University accepted me on to their higher performance programme to help me prepare for this upcoming championship. I will compete at 2025 U23 World championships in Poznan as the first Somali Rower at a world championship.