Norwegian Paralympian Birgit Skarstein was among those to set a new world record, posting a time of 8min 18.5sec in the women's PR1 2,000 metres.

The event is taking place online this year, with athletes competing remotely, and Skarstein said it was "very cool to see how smooth and professional the championships are running, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to compete again".

Germany's Florian Roller was one of the day's big winners, taking the lightweight men's 2,000m title, and Pole Klaudia Pankratiew won the women's equivalent race.

Beyond Skarstein's effort, five other world records fell in age-group races.

The Netherlands' Bernelot Mens set a 2,000m world record in the women's 70-75 category - 8:15.5 - and Val Coleman of Britain did the same in the women's 90-95 - 13:05.0.

Italy's Paola Mancini posted 1:38.4 for a new lightweight women's 50-59 world record over 500m.

George Petelin of Australia set a men's 75-79 2,000m world record in 7:07.9, while Mike Hurley of Britain set a new men's 85-89 world record over the same distance - 7:54.2.

Regional qualifiers were held in advance of the World Championships, and a total of 935 athletes from 63 nations qualified.

Anyone with a Concept2 rowing machine could enter.

More races are scheduled tomorrow.