Oliver Zeidler successfully defended his title at the World Championships in Racice/Czech Republic and saved the German Rowing Association (DRV) from a historic debacle.

Six weeks after the disappointing European Championship at home, the 26-year-old celebrated an impressive lights-to-flag win in the one-final ahead of top favorite Melvin Twellaar (Netherlands) and Briton Graeme Thomas.

With that, Zeidler secured the DRV's only World Championship medal in the Olympic classes.

For Zeidler it is the second world title of his career.

Three years ago, the former swimmer was the first German since 2002 to win the gold medal in the singles at the title fights in Linz.

At the European Championships in Munich in August, Zeidler ran out of energy in the final shortly before the finish line, and in fourth place he missed out on the medals.

Eighth wins B final

After dropping out in the repechage, the Germany eight won at least his last World Championship race in Racice/Czech Republic.

The heavily rejuvenated former parade boat of the German Rowing Association (DRV) prevailed in the B final ahead of China and Italy on Sunday and ended the title fights in seventh place.

On Friday, batsman Torben Johannesen's crew only finished third in the repechage and missed a World Cup final for the first time in 23 years.

At the European Championships in Munich six weeks ago, the German flagship, which is being rebuilt after the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year, missed out on the medals.

The A-final and thus the world championship title was won by the crew from Great Britain in 5:24.41 minutes, 1.11 seconds ahead of the eighth-placed Netherlands.

Third place went to Australia.

Alexandra Föster, third at the European Championships, also ended the World Championship with a win.

The 20-year-old from Meschede, who narrowly missed the one-final, also won her B-final.

Since the introduction of title fights in 1962, the DRV has never been without a medal in the Olympic classes.

In addition to Zeidler, only the women's double scull made it into the finals from the 14 Olympic classes.

The duo with Pia Greiten/Frauke finished sixth in the final.

In the non-Olympic classes, the DRV won three bronze medals on Friday, and the para-mixed foursome with a helmswoman won the silver medal on Saturday.