Rowing at the Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
Rowing at the Summer Olympics has been part of the competition since the 1900 Summer Olympics
. Rowing
was on the program at the 1896 Summer Olympics
but was cancelled due to bad weather. Only men were allowed to compete until the women's events were introduced at the 1976 Summer Olympics
in Montreal
. Lightweight rowing
events (which have weight-limited crews) were introduced to the games in 1996
.
Qualifying for the rowing events is under the jurisdiction of the International Rowing Federation
(or FISA, its French acronym). FISA predates the modern Olympics and was the first international sport federation to join the modern Olympic movement.
The lightweight events were threatened in 2002 when the Programme Commission of the IOC
recommended that, outside of combat sports (boxing
& wrestling
, but not fencing
, shooting, and archery
) and weightlifting, there should not be weight-category events. The Executive Board overturned this recommendation and the lightweight rowing has been continued.
In the early games (1900 and 1904) there were several other categories of events (Junior, Novice, Association, and Intermediate). A number of other boat classes have made an appearance at several games (sometimes for a long time) but have been subsequently dropped - sometimes quite recently. The primary loss has been in boats with coxwains, except for the eights, which have always been coxed. These were:
The non olympic boatclasses (which still compete in World Championships) are today LM1X, LM4X, LM2-, LM8+, LW1X, LW4X, W4-, and M2+
course.
Women's races were raced over 1,000 meters until 1988 when they were changed to 2,000 meters.
Early games featured match races between two or three boats (in 1952
, between four or five boats).
The modern six boat side-by-side format was first adopted at the 1936 Olympic Games
, and has been the standard since the 1956 Olympic Games
.
holds qualification events in order to determine who competes at the Olympic Games. At the Olympic Games, each National Olympic Committee
can only have one boat per event.
The main qualification comes from the previous year's World Rowing Championships
. Other qualifying events are called "Continental Qualification Regattas", of which four are held during the year preceding the games - Asia
, Africa
, Latin America
, and Final (open to everyone else). Each year FISA issues details of how many crews qualify at each regatta.
At the World Championships, the top finishing boats guarantee a place for that country - the rowers in the crew can be changed before the games. At the qualification regattas, it is the crew that wins that qualifies for the Olympics, and no changes can be made (except in the cases of illness or injuries).
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
. Rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
was on the program at the 1896 Summer Olympics
1896 Summer Olympics
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era...
but was cancelled due to bad weather. Only men were allowed to compete until the women's events were introduced at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. Lightweight rowing
Lightweight rowing
Lightweight rowing is a special category of rowing where limits are placed on the maximum weight of competitors. The rationale is that larger, taller people have a small but significant physical advantage and tend to dominate the sport...
events (which have weight-limited crews) were introduced to the games in 1996
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
.
Qualifying for the rowing events is under the jurisdiction of the International Rowing Federation
International Rowing Federation
The Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron, or FISA for short, is the International Rowing Federation which is the governing body for international Rowing. Its current president is Denis Oswald...
(or FISA, its French acronym). FISA predates the modern Olympics and was the first international sport federation to join the modern Olympic movement.
Events
At the current Olympics the following 14 events are offered:- Men: Quad scullQuad scullA quad scull, or quadruple scull in full, is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....
s, Double scullDouble scullA double scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....
s, Single scullSingle scullA single scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand....
s, EightEight (rowing)An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
, Coxless fourCoxless fourA coxless four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of four rowers, each having one oar. There are two rowers on the stroke side and two on the bow side...
, Coxless pairCoxless pairA Coxless pair is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of a pair of rowers, each having one oar, one on the stroke side and one on the bow side... - Lightweight Men: coxless four, double sculls
- Women: quad sculls, double sculls, single sculls, eight, coxless pair
- Lightweight Women: double sculls
The lightweight events were threatened in 2002 when the Programme Commission of the IOC
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
recommended that, outside of combat sports (boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
& wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, but not fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
, shooting, and archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
) and weightlifting, there should not be weight-category events. The Executive Board overturned this recommendation and the lightweight rowing has been continued.
In the early games (1900 and 1904) there were several other categories of events (Junior, Novice, Association, and Intermediate). A number of other boat classes have made an appearance at several games (sometimes for a long time) but have been subsequently dropped - sometimes quite recently. The primary loss has been in boats with coxwains, except for the eights, which have always been coxed. These were:
- Men's Coxed Pair (1900-1992)
- Men's Coxed Four (1900-1992)
- Women's Coxed Four (1976-1988)
- Women's Coxed Quad Sculls (1976-1984)
- Women's Coxless Four (1992 only)
- Men's Coxed Four with InriggersRowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's coxed fours, inriggersThe men's coxed fours with inriggers, also referred to as the coxed four with jugriggers, was a rowing event held as part of the Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the only appearance of the restricted event...
(1912 only) - Six-Man Naval Rowing Boats (1906 only)
- 17-Man Naval Rowing Boats (1906 only)
The non olympic boatclasses (which still compete in World Championships) are today LM1X, LM4X, LM2-, LM8+, LW1X, LW4X, W4-, and M2+
Race distances
Today all races are raced over a 2000 m course, but this did not become standard before the Stockholm Olympics in 1912. Before this it was raced over various distances. In Paris in 1900 (1,750 m), in St. Louis in 1904 (3218 m), in London in 1908 (2,412 m) also in 1948 (this also in London) the distance was different, this time 1,850 m. The 1908 and 1948 were held over the Henley Royal RegattaHenley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
course.
Women's races were raced over 1,000 meters until 1988 when they were changed to 2,000 meters.
Early games featured match races between two or three boats (in 1952
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
, between four or five boats).
The modern six boat side-by-side format was first adopted at the 1936 Olympic Games
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
, and has been the standard since the 1956 Olympic Games
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
.
Qualification
There is a limited number of crews permitted to race, so the International Rowing FederationInternational Rowing Federation
The Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron, or FISA for short, is the International Rowing Federation which is the governing body for international Rowing. Its current president is Denis Oswald...
holds qualification events in order to determine who competes at the Olympic Games. At the Olympic Games, each National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
can only have one boat per event.
The main qualification comes from the previous year's World Rowing Championships
World Rowing Championships
The World Rowing Championships is an international rowing regatta organized by FISA . It is a week long event held at the end of the northern hemisphere summer and in non-Olympic years is the highlight of the international rowing calendar.The first event was held in Lucerne, Switzerland in 1962...
. Other qualifying events are called "Continental Qualification Regattas", of which four are held during the year preceding the games - Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, and Final (open to everyone else). Each year FISA issues details of how many crews qualify at each regatta.
At the World Championships, the top finishing boats guarantee a place for that country - the rowers in the crew can be changed before the games. At the qualification regattas, it is the crew that wins that qualifies for the Olympics, and no changes can be made (except in the cases of illness or injuries).
Medal table
| 1 |  German Democratic Republic |
33 | 7 | 8 | 48 |
| 2 |  United States |
31 | 31 | 22 | 84 |
| 3 |  United Kingdom |
24 | 20 | 10 | 54 |
| 4 |  Germany |
19 | 12 | 14 | 45 |
| 5 |  Romania |
19 | 10 | 8 | 37 |
| 6 |  Soviet Union |
12 | 20 | 10 | 42 |
| 7 |  Italy |
10 | 13 | 12 | 35 |
| 8 |  Australia |
10 | 10 | 12 | 32 |
| 9 |  Canada |
9 | 14 | 15 | 38 |
| 10 |  France |
6 | 13 | 12 | 31 |
| 11 |  Switzerland |
6 | 8 | 9 | 23 |
| 12 |  Denmark |
6 | 3 | 10 | 19 |
| 13 |  New Zealand |
6 | 2 | 8 | 16 |
| 14 |  Netherlands |
5 | 11 | 10 | 26 |
| 15 |  West Germany |
4 | 4 | 6 | 14 |
| 16 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | |
| 17 |  Norway |
3 | 6 | 5 | 14 |
| 18 |  Bulgaria |
3 | 4 | 7 | 14 |
| 19 |  Poland |
3 | 3 | 9 | 15 |
| 20 |  Finland |
3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 21 |  Czechoslovakia |
2 | 2 | 7 | 11 |
| 22 |  Belarus |
2 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 23 |  People's Republic of China |
1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 24 |  Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 25 |  Argentina |
1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
 Slovenia |
1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 27 |  Russia |
1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 29 |  Belgium |
0 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| 30 |  Austria |
0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 31 |  Czech Republic |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
 Estonia |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
 Sweden |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 34 |  Uruguay |
0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 35 |  Hungary |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 36 |  Croatia |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Greece |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
 Ukraine |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 39 |  Spain |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 40 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Lithuania |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 South Africa |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| |align=left| Total | 226 | 226 | 229 | 681 |
Multiple medalists
The table shows those who have won at least 3 gold medals.| Athlete (nation) | Olympics | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Notes |
| 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 20 years between first and last gold medal | |
| 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | Gold medals in 5 straight Games, 1984 Gold in the coxed four, 1988 Gold in the pair with Andy Holmes , 1992 and 1996 Gold in the pair with Matthew Pinsent and in 2000 Gold in the coxless four | |
| 2000, 2004, 2008 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | Won the pair and the eights in both 2000 and 2004, and the pair again in 2008 | |
| 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | Part of Romania's three-straight gold medalist eight | |
| 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | Won three medals in the women's eight, and two in the pair | |
| 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Four straight Olympic golds. Won with Steven Redgrave in the pair in 1992 and 1996. In the coxless four in 2000 and in 2004 | |
| 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | Four straight Olympic golds. Bronze in her final Olympics in the Quadruple Sculls | |
| 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | First rower to win a medal at 5 straight Olympics. WWII prevented the opportunity for a sixth medal | |
| 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | Won three gold medals in the women's lightweight double sculls | |
| 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | Coxswain Coxswain The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ... of Romania's women's eight |
|
| 1992, 1996 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | Along with rowing partner Kathleen Heddle Kathleen Heddle Kathleen Joan Heddle, is a Canadian rower. Heddle and her long-time rowing partner Marnie McBean were the first Canadians to win three Olympic Gold medals.... , Canadian with the most gold medals |
|
| 1992, 1996 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | Won all her medals with rowing partner Marnie McBean Marnie McBean Marnie Elizabeth McBean is a Canadian rower.McBean competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the coxless pairs and eights events, winning gold medals in both. At the 1996 Summer Olympics she competed in the double and quadruple sculls, winning gold in the double and bronze in the quadruple... |
|
| 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | Most medaled Australian rower | |
| 1920, 1924 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | First rower to win 3 gold medals. Father of movie star turned princess Grace Kelly Grace Kelly Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of... |
|
| 1920, 1924, 1928 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | First man to win 3 gold medals in the same event, the double sculls. Cousin of John B. Kelly, Sr. John B. Kelly, Sr. John Brendan Kelly, Sr., also known as Jack Kelly, was one of the most accomplished American oarsmen in the history of the sport of rowing. He was a triple Olympic Gold Medal winner, the first to do so in the sport of rowing. He won 126 straight races in the single scull... |
|
| 1956, 1960, 1964 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Won all his medals in the single sculls | |
| 1972, 1976, 1980 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | First German triple gold medalist. Won in the pair and the coxless four | |
| 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Won all his medals in the single sculls | |
| 1988, 1996, 2000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | His brothers Carmine Carmine Abbagnale Carmine Abbagnale is an Italian competition rower and Olympic champion.-Career:Abbagnale received a gold medal in coxed pairs, with Giuseppe di Capua and his older brother Giuseppe, at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and again at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul... and Giuseppe Giuseppe Abbagnale Giuseppe Abbagnale is an Italian competition rower and Olympic champion.He received a gold medal in coxed pairs, with Giuseppe di Capua and his younger brother Carmine, at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and again at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul... each won 2 gold medals. |
|
| 1996, 2000, 2004 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Won all three medals in Romania's women's eight | |
| 1996, 2004, 2008 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Men's
| Single sculls | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 25 | |
| Double sculls | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 22 | ||||
| Quadruple sculls | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
| Coxless pairs | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 22 | ||||
| Coxed pairs | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 18 | ||||||||
| Coxless fours | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 22 | ||||
| Coxed fours | •• | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 20 | |||||||
| Coxed fours, inriggers | • | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eights | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 25 | |
| Lightweight Double sculls | • | • | • | • | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lightweight Coxless fours | • | • | • | • | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Events | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Women's
| Single sculls | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
| Double sculls | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
| Quadruple sculls | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
| Coxless pairs | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
| Coxed fours | • | • | • | • | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coxless fours | • | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eights | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
| Lightweight Double sculls | • | • | • | • | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Events | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Nations
| Nations | 0 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rowers | 0 | 108 | 44 | 81 | 186 | 136 | 182 | 245 | 153 | 313 | ||||||||||||||||||||
External links
- Olympic Rowing Medalists at HickokSports.com