With over 2,000 athletes from over 60 countries, the World Rowing Championships marks an enormous event for Port Dalhousie.

On Tuesday, the event entered its third day in the Niagara Region, and for those watching it unfold, excellent weather and a sunny forecast made for a very enjoyable afternoon.

However, for those participating in the event, it is anything but.

“Exhausting. Monotonous. Painful,” are just some of the words the athletes competing in Tuesday’s events used to describe the event.

“We enjoy training and being in pain, I think that’s part of the sport and dealing with it and really learn to love it,” Pedro Dickson from Argentina told CHCH News.

Nadia Gaspari from South Africa said, “It’s almost like, it’s a weird sensation when you’re doing well and you feel that pain, it’s rewarding.”

After Monday’s action was rained out, Tuesday’s action was jam-packed. Still ahead are five more days of competition at the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing course.

For more information, visit the official event page.