As construction workers continued to build the venue for the 2017 World Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park, the world's best rowing athletes descended upon the park Sunday morning for workouts.
The event begins with the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 23 with competition getting started the next day and running through Oct. 1.
The East County Observer and Sarasota Observer will publish a special section in Thursday's print editions with information on tickets, parking, entertainment and the athletes.
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Athletes head to the docks at dawn on Sunday to practice for the 2017 World Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.
El Salvadoran rower Roberto Lopez goes through a practice session Sunday morning.
The 2017 World Rowing Championship medals have arrived in Sarasota.
A refrigerator on site at the 2017 World Rowing Championships displays what is on everyone's mind at Nathan Benderson Park.
The Nathan Benderson logo was painted on the finish tower Friday.
Elite rowers don't just row. A group went through a long jog before hitting the water.
As the sun rises, rowers prepare for their practice session at Nathan Benderson Park.
Seagulls were the only company for a lone rower early Sunday morning.
An Albanian rower navigates the course at Nathan Benderson Park.
Mary Jones of the United States prepares for the 2017 World Rowing Championships.
The Romanian Women's Four team is about to launch at Nathan Benderson Park.
The New Zealand Women's Four heads back to the start line.
Somebody has to carry the paddles for New Zealand.
Certain Sarasota landmarks are about to get a lot of exposure.
The New Zealand Men's Eight catches a breath after a practice run Sunday.
The Romanian Men's Eight team completes a run at Nathan Benderson Park.
Paraguay's Alejandra Alonso has it worked out so she can carry everything to the dock in one trip for her workout.
The rowers take care of some mundane tasks themselves.
The New Zealand Men's Four begins a workout at Nathan Benderson Park.
Argentina's Francisco Esteras and Axel Haack were two of the first on the water Sunday morning.
The New Zealand Women's Four was working hard through Sunday's practice.
The water was calm at dawn on Sunday morning, but that changed as the many boats hit the water.
