Marcel Andrew Otim concludes World U19 Rowing campaign

Ugandan rower Marcel Andrew Otim has finished his participation at the 2026 World Rowing Under 19 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The 17-year-old competed in the Under 19 Men’s Single Sculls (JM1x) category, gaining experience against elite junior athletes.

Otim began his championship run on 6 August, clocking a time of 8:18.02 in his heat to secure a place in the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinal round, he recorded a time of 8:30.66. He concluded his campaign in the D Final on Saturday morning, finishing with a time of 8:25.95.

Uganda National Rowing Coach Batenga Nakisozi noted that the primary goal for the teenager was to learn the requirements of high-level racing. Nakisozi stated that reaching the quarterfinals provided Otim with three competitive 2,000-metre races against international opponents, which helped the team identify necessary areas for improvement.

The experience in Plovdiv serves as preparation for Otim's next major assignment at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. While the championships focused on sculling, the athlete will compete in Beach Sprint Rowing in Senegal this October. Nakisozi explained that the Plovdiv campaign helped build Otim's fitness, technical skills, and ability to handle pressure, rather than acting as a separate program.

Training will now shift toward the specific demands of Beach Sprints, including navigation, boat entry, and managing wind and currents. The coaching staff intends to use the benchmarks set in Bulgaria and the previous July competition in Portugal to guide the next eight weeks of preparation. This approach aligns with the long-term strategy of Uganda Rowing to expose young talent to increasing levels of international competition.