The athletes of the national rowing team have returned home after a two-and-a-half-month training camp in Italy, and are now entering training in Snagov for this year's goals, the European Championships in Varese and the World Championships in Amsterdam.
For the 2026 season, the rowers from the national team returned to a winter training camp in Italy, after last year they had stayed at home, in Snagov. The weather was no longer as mild, so they sought warmer water in Italy.
And they changed places, going to Savoyin the province of Latina, after in previous years they were at Piedilucoin the province of Terni. Time has passed, and now I am back in my usual place at the base in Snagov, gradually preparing for the important competitions of the year.
In Italy, they trained in singles boats, in rowing, as reported by the multiple Olympic, world and European champion Simona Radis in an event organized together with FR Canotaj's oldest sponsor, Negro 2000.
The selection has been made in the rowing boats, now follows the one for the double-rowed and double-framed boats – an opportunity to restore the specific warps. “Other handles, other beatings, other wounds, but they will heal”, assured Simona. “Only then will we get into the big boats. There is still a little selection coming up for us and after that the boats that we will go and race with will be formed“, she added.
Simona Radiș: “We managed to train on water, salty, not sweet, like before”
But how was it in Savoy? “It was good because we managed to train on the water. From my point of view, this is the most important. It was salt water, not fresh water like before. A bit too crowded for my taste, but that's about it. We have to adapt to all conditions and have our mind and thoughts on the goals we have“, is Radiș's opinion.
She says that although they had a good time there, they were counting the days until their return. “I'm glad I came back because here we really feel like home, it's comfortable, we have everything we need in one place and that's a great thing. There we had to walk about 15 minutes from the hotel to the base, 15 minutes there, 15 minutes back and it was quite tiring, but it is beautiful here and the weather seems to be on our side“, observed the double Olympic champion.
Apart from training and recovery, after the time spent in Sabaudia they remain with the fact that they saw “a new place, another city. I liked it a lot because it was close to the sea. I've been to the beach a few times. Natural beach, not like ours. A very big difference”.
They didn't have much free time. “Very little and I made a small getaway to Rome”, said Simona, who is not visiting the Eternal City for the first time. “I relaxed, I needed that break from the routine, and it worked really well. Rome never ceases to impress me. It's a beautiful city, but also very crowded. Unfortunately, not all parts are beautiful, but I recommend that as many people as possible get there.”
Simona Radiș, change for 2026: one test
Romania's boat of 8 plus 1 mixed Photo: FR Canotaj/Balint Czucz
In conclusion, Radiș revealed that he intends to approach this year 2026 differently, which is in the middle of the Olympic cycle between Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.Frankly, I set out and wish not to double up. I had a period when I felt very tired and I realized that my body needs to be more careful with it and not push it for a while“, explained the rower, who for good seasons has also constantly participated in doubles, rowing or sculls, as well as in the 8 plus 1 sculls.
“My thought was that the best decision is to focus on one event this year, not to spend too much energy to prepare, because next year we already have the qualifications and the Olympics will be knocking on the door“, she added. And she added that it won't be difficult for her to choose a single sample. “Certainly things will settle down and the sample will come to me, not me to her”, assured Simona Radiș.
For the members of the national team, the milestones of 2026 are European Championships from Varese (July 30 – August 2) and World Championships hosted by Amsterdam (August 24 – 30), but also, most likely, the World Cup stage from Lucerne (June 26 – 28), which they participated in constantly over time.
