Rowing - London Olympics 2012
The Rowing competition at the London 2012 Games will feature extraordinary displays of power and passion on the world-class waters at Eton Dorney.
Key facts
Venue: Eton Dorney
Dates: Saturday 28 July – Sunday 4 August
Medal events: 14
Athletes: 550 (353 men, 197 women)
Although its history dates back centuries, Rowing only came of age as a competitive sport in the last 200 years. Interest began to increase after Oxford and Cambridge Universities began their rivalry on the Thames in 1829, a rivalry that continues today in the shape of the annual Boat Race.
Today’s sport is renowned for its competitors’ legendary displays of strength and stamina, as athletes push themselves through the pain barrier in an attempt to win Olympic gold.
Did you know?
The oldest Olympic Rowing champion is Great Britain’s Guy Nickalls, who was 41 when he won gold at London 1908.
Rowing is the only sport where competitors cross the finish line backwards.
The first Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race took place in 1829.
The youngest Olympic champion is thought to be an anonymous French boy, who coxed for a Dutch pair at the Paris 1900 Games. The boy, aged no more than 12, took part in the victory ceremony but then disappeared.
Dr Benjamin Spock, the famous child development expert, won Olympic gold in the Men’s Eight at the Paris 1924 Games.
The basics
The 14 Olympic Rowing events range from the Single Sculls, featuring solo rowers, to the Eights, contested by teams of eight rowers plus a cox. All events are held over a 2,000m course, with the competition taking a total of eight days.
All Rowing events at London 2012 will begin with the heats, from which the best boats will qualify for the next round. Boats that do not qualify automatically from the heats get a second chance to qualify through the repechage round. The best boats eventually progress through the various stages and into the finals of each event, which decide the medallists.
Olympic Rowing, past and present
Rowing has been staged at every Games since making its debut on the Olympic programme at Paris in 1900. The youngest Olympic champion is thought to be an anonymous French boy who coxed for a Dutch pair at the inaugural competition. The boy, aged no more than 12, took part in the victory ceremony but then disappeared.
For London 2012, the Rowing competition will be held on the spectacular lake at Eton Dorney.
Jargon buster
Coxswain: The coxswain, or ‘cox’, sits at the stern and is responsible for steering the boat and directing the crew.
Lightweight: In women’s lightweight events, no rower may weigh more than 59kg, with an average weight per crew member not exceeding 57kg. For men, the single-rower maximum is 72.5kg, and the maximum crew member average shall not exceed 70kg.
Scull: To row with two oars, one in each hand.
Sweep: To row with one oar.
Get involved
To find your nearest boat club, get in touch with British Rowing.
British Rowing is also running 'Project Oarsome' – a scheme to help young people at state schools in the United Kingdom get started in Rowing. More information can be found at the International Rowing Federation’s website
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