Fredrik Bekken: – Maybe the biggest talent we've had after World Cup silver

Norway's silver in junior singlesculler

Raphael Pintsch won silver in the junior singlesculler at the World Cup in Plovdiv, and national team coach Fredrik Bekken is proud of the result. Pintsch was the fastest in the finish, but the lead to Greek Iason Mouselimis was too big. The Norwegian Rowing Federation describes the silver as «one of the strongest Norwegian results in junior-VM in many years».

– I'm very proud to be able to return home with a World Cup medal, says Pintsch.

National team coach Fredrik Bekken is not sparing the gunpowder. – Medals in junior singlesculler are rare for a small nation like Norway. Raphael is maybe the biggest talent we've had. I've never experienced a junior athlete with such dedication and performance ability, says Bekken.

– This silver is no coincidence. Raphael is an athlete we will hear a lot from in the coming years, continues Bekken, who took Olympic silver in Sydney in 2000 with recently deceased Olaf Tufte.

Norway in the 2026 World Cup

Norway is now 2nd in the World Cup in football after 3 games, with 6 points and a win, a draw and a loss. Norway has also scored 8 goals and conceded 7, and is 3 points behind France in the top of the table.

Next match

Norway's next match is at home against Denmark on September 24, 2026.

Fredrik Bekken's evaluation of Pintsch

– I've never experienced a junior athlete with such dedication and performance ability as Raphael. He is an athlete who will achieve great success in Norway, says national team coach Fredrik Bekken.