Paralympic champion Pritchard sets world record at Euros

On day one of the European Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, British Paralympic champion Benjamin Pritchard set a new world record.

Pritchard, 33, clinched gold in the PR1 men’s single sculls in Paris on Thursday night in the final of the competition in Bulgaria with a time of nine minutes, three 84 seconds.

The Welshman’s new world record, set at 8:47.88, beat the previous best of 8.50.38 set by Ukrainian Roman Polianskyi.

Pritchard claimed that his performance was a result of the LA 2028 Games’ “performance reset.”

Once the 2024 season was over, it was back to zero, he said, “we’ve got a mantra back at British Rowing.”

“Yes, I won the Paralympics, but this cycle is entirely different. You have to keep up the training to keep moving forward because you are unaware of what other people have done in the winter and what new athletes are gaining.

To go out there and get the world’s best time, which I still feel like I’m early in my season preparations, shows how much the effort I’m making, including trying to be an athlete, working in the city, and being a father, is worthwhile.

In addition, British record-holder Lauren Henry won the women’s single sculls competition, setting a British record.

The third fastest time Henry has ever won was 7:09.76, which Henry won in Paris last year as part of the quadruple sculls.

On Friday, the Englishwoman will compete in the semi-finals.

For my first senior international single race, the 23-year-old said: “It’s an exciting result.” I’m delighted that my plan has been carried out.