Buryak, described as the fastest woman in the world on a rowing machine prior to the competition, claimed victory over 2,000 metres in a time of 6min 26.1sec.

This was a world record for the 30 to 39 age group, beating the previous mark which had stood for 14 years by more than two seconds.

Luisa Neerschultz of Germany won silver while bronze at the T.C. Williams High School went to China's Rui Ju.

In the open men's event, two-time Olympian Jakub Podrazil of the Czech Republic came out on top in 5:44.8.

This was nearly 10 seconds quicker than Finland's silver medallist Joel Naukkarinen while Thomas Phifer won bronze for the US.

In lightweight action, Christine Cavallo clinched a home American victory in the women's event with a world record time of 6:54.1.

The men's lightweight victory was taken by Poland's World Games gold medallist Artur Mikolajczewski, who came home in 6:07.4.

Rowers also competed in a number of age-group categories at the event, as well as in Para-competitions.

Indoor rowing consists of athletes competing on machines used to simulate the action of watercraft rowing.

It has traditionally been considered a training tool for rowers.

World Rowing claim that the new World Championships is building on the success of the World Games and is in "recognition of the tremendous growth and development of indoor rowing as a full discipline within the sport of rowing".