Rowing (sport)

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Rowing (sport)

Rowing is a water sport where boats race using oars. There are two main styles:
- Sculling: each rower has two oars (one in each hand).
- Sweeping: each rower has one oar (held with both hands).

Boats range from single rowers to eight-person crews. Some boats have a coxswain who steers and coordinates the crew; others do not.

Racing typically happens on calm water and most elite races are 2,000 meters long. The sport uses oars or blades that attach to the boat with oarlocks. Modern shells are lightweight and built from advanced materials like carbon fiber. Oars come in different sizes, with rigging adjusted to fit each crew.

Major competitions and governance
- World Rowing Federation (formerly FISA) is the sport’s international governing body.
- The Olympic Games (every four years) feature a set of rowing events.
- The World Rowing Championships are held annually with many boat classes.
- There are national and club competitions around the world, including famous regattas and university events.
- More than 150 countries have rowing federations.

Categories and rules
- Age groups include junior (under 19), under 23, senior, and masters.
- Lightweight events exist to keep competition fair for lighter rowers; these have specific weight limits.
- Adaptive rowing lets athletes with disabilities compete in specially designed boats.
- In most boats, a coxswain sits at the back (stern) and steers, calls the pace, and coordinates the crew. Some boats are “bow-loaders” where the coxswain sits at the front (bow).

Discipline and technique
- The rowing stroke has four parts: catch (blade enters the water), drive (power the boat), finish (remove the blade from the water), and recovery (prepare for the next stroke).
- The “bow” rower starts the boat’s balance, the “engine room” (middle four) provides power, and the “stroke” sets the rhythm. The coxswain (if present) helps with steering and pacing.

Equipment and boats
- Shells (boats) are long, narrow, and designed to reduce drag.
- Oars (blades) come in various shapes and materials, often colored to match a team.
- Smaller boats may use a rudder; larger coxed boats use the coxswain to steer.
- Racing shells are built to meet weight rules so no team gains an unfair advantage.

Training and formats
- Indoor rowing, using ergometers and rowing tanks, is common for technique work and conditioning, especially when water isn’t available.
- Rowing regattas come in two main formats: side-by-side sprint races on a straight course, and head races that are time trials on longer courses.
- Races can be held with many boats at once or in knockout formats; some races include repechages for a second chance to qualify.

History and culture
- Rowing has roots in 17th-century England with river regattas along the Thames.
- The Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race began in 1829 and became a major annual event.
- Women’s rowing became an Olympic sport in 1976.
- Rowing has a rich club and collegiate tradition around the world, with many historic clubs and regattas.

Benefits and risks
- Rowing provides a full-body workout: legs, core, back, and arms, plus strong cardiovascular fitness.
- It also offers mental benefits: teamwork, focus, and resilience. Synchrony in crews can boost pain tolerance and social cohesion.
- Common injuries come from overuse or poor technique and can include knee or back strain, blisters, and seat-track contact injuries. Proper technique and conditioning help reduce these risks.

In short, rowing combines skill, strength, and teamwork to race boats across a range of events and formats, supported by a global community of clubs, universities, and national federations.