Jovana Arsić Wins Gold at the World Cup, Continuing Serbia's Rowing Success

The European champion from Szeged added another title to her collection, winning the A Final in Plovdiv with a dominant performance and finishing ahead of the American and Uzbek competitors.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria – June 14, 2026: Serbian rowing celebrated a significant achievement on the final day of the World Cup in Plovdiv, as Jovana Arsić claimed gold in the A Final of the women's single sculls. The European champion from Szeged delivered a commanding performance, crossing the finish line in 7:20.69 and holding off a strong international field.

Arsić's victory was the result of a carefully executed race. At the 500-metre mark, she was in second place, trailing China's Xi Hua Wang by 0.73 seconds, with American rower Grace Joyce a further 1.5 seconds behind the Serbian. By the halfway point, Arsić had taken the lead, opening a gap of nearly two seconds over both the Chinese and American competitors. She maintained her advantage through the final stages, securing the gold medal with composure. The Chinese rower faded significantly in the closing stages, allowing Uzbekistan's Anna Prakaten to claim bronze with a time of 7:23.46, while Joyce took silver in 7:22.21.

The result continues a strong run of form for Arsić, who has established herself as one of the leading competitors in her discipline. Her gold medal in Plovdiv adds to her European title and confirms her status as a serious contender for major international events in the coming years.

There was further cause for optimism in the men's pair event, where Dušan Slavnić and Aleksandar Beđik finished fourth in the A Final with a time of 6:20.53. The Serbian pair were at the back of the field at the halfway point but increased their pace in the second half of the race, overtaking the American crew in a battle for fourth place. The New Zealand duo of Welsh and Taylor took gold with a time of 6:09.04, while the American pair of Rodriguez and Chetten secured silver in 6:11.77, and Italy's Lodo and Codato claimed bronze in 6:17.69.

In the men's single sculls, Andrija Simeunović finished sixth in the B Final with a time of 7:04.88. The Serbian rower remained at the back of the field throughout the race, with China's Hu Li Zang finishing second-last in 6:58.24.

The World Cup in Plovdiv provided a valuable opportunity for Serbian rowers to test themselves against international competition ahead of the upcoming European Championships and World Championships. Arsić's gold medal, in particular, will serve as a significant confidence boost for the team as they prepare for the next phase of the season.