A power endurance water sport in which crews propel a long narrow shell with oars across a measured course.
Origin and rules
Competitive rowing was organised in 18th-century England on the Thames, with the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race first contested in 1829. Crews of one, two, four, or eight rowers race side by side in lanes, pulling oars in unison.
How it plays
Olympic events run a 2000-metre course. Boats can be sculling, with two oars per rower, or sweep, with one. The eight-person boat includes a coxswain to steer and call cadence. Races last six to seven minutes.
Competition
The World Rowing Championships and the Olympic regatta are the top international events. The Henley Royal Regatta is the most prestigious historical event. Great Britain, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand are powerhouses.
Find more sports by letter
Rowing starts with R and ends with G. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Rowing":