Greek rowing champion Stefanos Ntouskos has once again reached the pinnacle of his sport, winning gold at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai. With a time of 6:36.75, Ntouskos overtook Germany’s Oliver Zeidler (6:37.17), while Belarus’ Yauheni Zalati finished third (6:38.60).
Ntouskos entered the race with a clear strategy, carefully managing his energy throughout before launching a decisive push in the final 100 meters. Crossing the finish line in the early hours of Sunday, September 28, he secured first place, bringing joy to fans across Greece.
Reflecting on his achievement in a live interview with ERT, Ntouskos said:
“I believed in it. A huge thanks to everyone supporting me. I am so happy. I really wanted a world championship gold. The race went like clockwork. At the 1,000-meter mark, when I saw they weren’t pulling ahead, I knew I could do it. I stayed patient. I was in front, telling myself ‘hold on a little longer.’ The last 100 meters were incredibly tough — I put my soul into winning the gold. It is dedicated to all of Greece.”
A Career of Medals
Stefanos Ntouskos’ major achievements highlight his consistency and excellence at both the European and global level:
- Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020 – Gold
- European Championships: Oberschleißheim 2022 – Silver
- European Championships: Bled 2023 – Silver
- European Championships: Szeged 2024 – Silver
- European Championships: Plovdiv 2025 – Silver
- World Championships: Shanghai 2025 – Gold
Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas publicly congratulated Ntouskos for his victory:
“My warmest congratulations to our Olympian from Ioannina, Stefanos Ntouskos, who, competing in the men’s single sculls final at the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, delivered an outstanding performance and fulfilled his dream of a gold medal at a world-class event. Stefanos, with your oars, effort, persistence, and patience, you continue to elevate Greece to the highest podium, inspiring young and old alike.”
