Beach Sprint world champions Esther Briz and Magdalena Lobnig switched back to the flat water to compete in the Henley Women’s Regatta and the Henley Royal Regatta in recent weeks. Briz, the 2021 and 2022 beach sprint world champion in the mixed double (with Ander Martín), won the Redgrave Challenge Vase in the coxless pair with University of Oxford teammate Kyra Edwards at the Henley Women’s Regatta. Lobnig, the 2024 beach sprint world champion in the women’s solo (and Tokyo 2020 women’s single bronze medalist) came second in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup in the single at the Henley Royal Regatta.
Briz and Lobnig are now focused on qualification for LA28 in beach sprint, although Briz also has hopes to get race on the flat water in Los Angeles, too. Both are expected to be among the favorites, but the challenge for Briz may be fighting off other talented Spanish rowers to gain her country’s sole women’s quota place.