The event, which is presented by Concept2, will take place for the first time in a hybrid format, with the majority of rowers competing on site at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Toronto, Canada but with others taking part from their homes.

"The 2023 WRICH has attracted a wide range of athletes from different sporting backgrounds including CrossFitters, powerlifters, discus throwers, as well as the existing Classic, Coastal and indoor rowing communities from all across the world," a World Rowing release said.

"It will also feature for the first time the World Rowing Versa Challenge, a competition composed of multiple events over the two days of racing."

Zeidler won the men's title over the classic distance of 2,000 metres at the second edition of this competition in 2019.

Other top names taking part include Ukraine's London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympian Olena Buryak of Ukraine, a multiple world record holder in women's indoor rowing who won the first three titles from 2018 to 2020, and Belgium's Ward Lemmelijn, who is seeking a hat-trick of titles in the men's race.

Also in the frame will be two of Canada's women's eight gold medallists from Tokyo 2020, Sydney Payne and Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski, and former Canadian Olympians Mike Forgeron and Phil Monckton.

In the men's 500m, Britain's Phil Clapp will be going for a fourth consecutive win.

His competitors include, notably, former powerlifter Cameron Wharram of Canada.

The Versa Challenge will test all the skills and strengths required of indoor rowers on the arena floor in Mississauga, exposing them to new and unfamiliar race formats which cannot be replicated at home.

Ten men and ten women will race in five different events over two days with the goal of being crowned the World Rowing Versa Champion, or the most versatile indoor rowers in the world.

Participants include Joel Naukkarinen of Finland, on the podium at the 2020 and 2021 World Rowing Indoor Championships; former professional Canadian rugby player, Jason Marshall; Kirsten Kline of the United States, winner of the women's title over 2,000m in 2021 and regular names on the indoor rowing circuit such as Germany's Anna Muehleand Charlotte Dixon of Britain.

The event will also feature Para racing in the PR1, PR2, PR3 and PR3-II categories, on both 500m and 2000m.

The oldest competitor is Britain’s 95-year-old Valerie Coleman.

There will be live streaming of the racing tomorrow and on February 26.

This will be host-produced by World Rowing Productions and be available to watch on www.worldrowing.com and World Rowing's YouTube channel.