The 2026 World Rowing Championships are underway in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Uzbek national team claimed the historic medal on August 27.
Competing in the lightweight men’s double sculls (LM2x), Nurmatov and Safaraliyev crossed the line first to become world champions. The victory marked Uzbekistan’s first medal – and first gold – at the senior World Rowing Championships.
The Uzbek duo opened up a decisive lead during the race and held off Germany’s Naveen Alexander Shah and Maximilian Ruehling, who took silver. The United States won bronze.
After the race, Nurmatov and Safaraliyev said they were dedicating their world title to the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence.
