Just nine months after capturing gold at the Paris Paralympics, Welsh para-rower Ben Pritchard has added another stunning achievement to his already remarkable career — clinching European gold and breaking the PR1 men’s single sculls world record at the 2025 European Rowing Championships in Plovdiv.
The 33-year-old athlete from Mumbles, Wales, delivered a breathtaking performance in what was his first competitive race since the Paralympic Games, clocking a time so fast he himself was left in disbelief.
“It was pretty surreal,” Pritchard told BBC Sport Wales. “I still felt like I was in the winter block of training — long miles, no speed work. I was nervous at the start line. But once I was on the water, something just clicked.”
Despite the early timing of the championship in the rowing season, Pritchard powered down the course with sheer determination, leaving his competitors behind and setting a new world best time in the PR1 classification — a category for rowers with minimal or no trunk function.
“I could feel I was moving fast, but I had no idea it was that fast,” he said. “When I crossed the line and saw the time, I was stunned. That’s pretty special. I definitely didn’t expect it.”
Pritchard’s record-breaking victory cements his status as one of the most dominant forces in para-rowing, inspiring athletes not only in the UK but across the world. From overcoming a life-altering injury to becoming a Paralympic and now European champion, his story is one of resilience, power, and unrelenting spirit.
With eyes now on future world competitions, Ben Pritchard continues to redefine the limits of what’s possible on the water — one race, one medal, and one record at a time.
