Rowing ( sport ) Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other in boats , 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 . The sport can be both recreational , focusing on learning the techniques required , and competitive where physical size and overall fitness plays a large role . It is also one of the oldest Olympic sports . In the United States , high school and College rowing is sometimes referred to as " crew " . Basic information . While rowing , the athlete sits in the boat facing backwards ( towards the stern ) , and uses the oars which are held in place by the oarlock s to propel the boat forward ( towards the bow ) . This may be done on a canal , river , lake , sea , or other large body of water . The sport requires strong core balance as well as physical strength and cardiovascular endurance . Whilst the action of rowing and equipment used remains fairly consistent throughout the world , there are many different types of competition . These include endurance races , time trials , stake racing , bumps racing , and the side - by - side format used in the Olympic games . The many different formats are a result of the long history of the sport , its development in different regions of the world , and specific local requirements and restrictions . There are two forms of rowing : Anatomy of a stroke . The two fundamental reference points in the rowing stroke are the catch , immediately prior to the oar blade ' s placement in the water , and the extraction ( also known as the finish or the release ) where the rower removes the oar blade from the water . At the catch , the rower ’ s hips should be no farther forward than the oarlock to their side . If this happens , the resulting lever angle created will not be as effective as if aligned with the oarlock or slightly behind it . From the catch , the rower places the blade in the water , then applies pressure to the oar by simultaneously pushing the seat toward the bow of the boat by extending the legs . As the legs approach full extension , the rower pivots his or her torso toward the bow of the boat and then finally pulls the arms towards his or her chest . The hands should meet the chest right above the diaphragm , and then drop enough to take the blade out of the water while giving the hands enough room not to hit the legs . If this is not possible , adjustments can be made to popwashers on the oarlock . The shoulders should not hunch up at any point during the drive . At the very end of the stroke , with the blade still in the water , the hands drop slightly to unload the oar so that spring energy stored in the bend of the oar gets transferred to the boat , which eases removing the oar from the water and minimizes energy wasted on lifting water above the surface ( splashing ) . The aforementioned stages of the stroke where pressure is applied to the blade through the water comprise the drive of the stroke . The recovery phase follows the drive . The recovery involves removing the oar from the water , and coordinating the body movement to move the oar to the catch . The coordinated body motion that begins at the finish consists of the following : The rower pushes down on the oar handle ( or oar handles if the rower is sculling ) to quickly lift the blade from the water at the release . Following the release , the rower rapidly rotates the oar to cause the blade of the oar to become parallel to the water ( a process referred to as " feathering the blade " ) at the same time as pushing the oar handle away from the chest . The blade should come out of the water square and then feather immediately once clear of the water . Should a rower feather his or her oar before this time , his or her blade can get briefly stuck under water , or even result in " catching a crab , " as described below . After feathering and extending the arms , the rower pivots his or her body forward . Once the hands are past the knees , the rower compresses the legs which moves the seat towards the stern of the boat . The leg compression occurs relatively slowly ( compared with the rest of the stroke ) which affords the rower a moment to " recover " ( hence the recovery nomenclature ) , and allows the boat to glide through the water . The gliding of the boat through the water on the recovery is often called “ run ” . Many people disagree on what is the correct ratio of timing of drive to timing of recovery , but all agree that a controlled slide is necessary to maintain momentum and achieve optimal boat run . Near the end of the recovery , the rower squares the blade ( rotates the blade to perpendicular to the water ) , and then repeats the stroke again , beginning with the catch . In a multi - person boat , the above motion must be executed in precise synchrony with all other rowers in the shell . Coordinated timing at the catch is imperative to avoid " checking " the boat , or slowing its forward progress . Another consequence of not being synchronized is having an “ offset ” boat , or a boat that tilts to one side ( port or starboard ) . This causes frustration for rowers who have difficulty getting the oar in and out of the water if the boat is offset to their side , and difficulty in steering a boat that is leaning more to one side than the other . A further consequence of improper timing and offset boats is commonly called “ catching a crab ” , or when a rower ’ s oar becomes stuck in the water under the force of water flowing over the oar , and the handle jerks back to hit the rower as the blade is held still but the boat is still moving . This can even result in a rower being launched out of the boat , often called an “ ejector crab ” . However , ideally all rowers arrive at the catch at exactly the same moment , and immediately apply pressure on the oar with the oar in the water which minimizes jerk at the catch . To accomplish this , the oar must be in the water slightly in advance of the rower ' s arrival at the catch where the seat reverses direction . When this action is completed correctly a bit of water , called " back splash " is splashed . Breathing during a rowing stroke . There are two schools of thought with respect to the appropriate breathing technique during the rowing motion : Full lungs at the catch and empty lungs at the catch . With the full lung technique , rowers exhale during the stroke and inhale during the recovery . In laboured circumstances , rowers will take a quick pant at the end of the stroke before taking a deep breath on the recovery that fills the lungs by the time the catch is reached . In the empty - lung technique , rowers inhale during the drive , and exhale during the recovery so that they have empty lungs at the catch . Because the knees come up to the chest when the lungs are empty , this technique allows the rower to reach a little bit further than if the lungs were full of air . A scientific study of the benefits of entrained breathing technique in relatively fit , but untrained rowers did not show any physiological or psychological benefit to either technique . Rowing propulsion . Rowing is a cyclic ( or intermittent ) form of propulsion such that in the quasi steady - state the motion of the system ( the system comprising the rower , the oars , and the boat ) , is repeated regularly . In order to maintain the steady - state propulsion of the system without either accelerating or decelerating the system , the sum of all the external forces on the system , averaged over the cycle , must be zero . Thus , the average drag ( retarding ) force on the system must equal the average propulsion force on the system . The drag forces consist of aerodynamic drag on the superstructure of the system ( components of the boat situated above the waterline ) , as well as the hydrodynamic drag on the submerged portion of the system . The propulsion forces are the forward reaction of the water on the oars while in the water . Note also that the oar can be used to provide a drag force ( a force acting against the forward motion ) when the system is brought to rest . Although the oar can be conveniently thought of as a lever with a " fixed " pivot point in the water , the blade moves sideways and sternwards through the water , so that the magnitude of the propulsion force developed is the result of a complex interaction between unsteady fluid mechanics ( the water flow around the blade ) and solid mechanics and dynamics ( the handle force applied to the oar , the oar ' s inertia and bending characteristic , the acceleration of the boat and so on ) . Distinction from other watercraft . The distinction between rowing and other forms of water transport , such as canoe ing or kayak ing , is that in rowing the oars are held in place at a pivot point that is in a fixed position relative to the boat , this point is the load point for the oar to act as a second class lever ( the blade fixed in the water is the fulcrum ) . In flatwater rowing , the boat ( also called a " shell " or " fine boat " ) is narrow to avoid drag , and the oars are attached to oarlocks at the end of outriggers extending from the sides of the boat . Racing boats also have sliding seats to allow the use of the legs in addition to the body to apply power to the oar . Like racing kayaks or canoes , most racing shells are inherently unstable . The rowing boats require oars on either side to prevent them from rolling over . Fitness and health . Rowing is one of the few non - weight bearing sports that exercise s all the major muscle groups , including quads , biceps , triceps , lats , glutes and abdominal muscles . Rowing improves cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength . High - performance rowers tend to be tall and muscular : although extra weight does increase the drag on the boat , the larger athletes ' increased power tends to be more significant . The increased power is achieved through increased length of leverage on the oar through longer limbs of the athlete . In multi - rower boats ( 2 , 4 , or 8 ) , the lightest person typically rows in the bow seat at the front of the boat . Rowing is a low impact activity with movement only in defined ranges , so twist and sprain injuries are rare . However , the repetitive rowing action can put strain on knee joint s , the spine and the tendons of the forearm , and inflammation of these are the most common rowing injuries . If one rows with poor technique , especially rowing with a curved rather than straight back , other injuries may surface , including back pains . Blisters occur for some rowers , as every stroke puts pressure on the hands , although use tends to harden the hands to generate protective calluses . Holding the oars too tightly may cause blisters . History . Even since the earliest recorded references to rowing , the sporting element has been present . An Egyptian funerary inscription of 1430 BC records that the warrior Amenhotep ( Amenophis ) II was also renowned for his feats of oarsmanship . In the Aeneid , Virgil mentions rowing forming part of the funeral games arranged by Aeneas in honour of his father . In the 13th century , Venetian festivals called " regata " included boat races among others . The first known " modern " rowing races began from competition among the professional watermen in the United Kingdom that provided ferry and taxi service on the River Thames in London . Prizes for wager races were often offered by the London Guilds and Livery Companies or wealthy owners of riverside houses . The oldest surviving such race , Doggett ' s Coat and Badge was first contested in 1715 and is still held annually from London Bridge to Chelsea . During the 19th century these races were to become numerous and popular , attracting large crowds . Prize matches amongst professionals similarly became popular on other rivers throughout Great Britain in the 19th century , notably on the Tyne . In America , the earliest known race dates back to 1756 in New York , when a pettiauger defeated a Cape Cod whaleboat in a race . Amateur competition in England began towards the end of the 18th century . Documentary evidence from this period is sparse , but it is known that the Monarch Boat Club of Eton College and the Isis Club of Westminster School were both in existence in the 1790s . The Star Club and Arrow Club in London for gentlemen amateurs were also in existence before 1800 . At the University of Oxford bumping races were first organised in 1815 when Brasenose College and Jesus College boat clubs had the first annual race while at Cambridge the first recorded races were in 1827 . Brasenose beat Jesus to win Oxford University ' s first Head of the River ; the two clubs claim to be the oldest established boat clubs in the world . The Boat Race between Oxford University and Cambridge University first took place in 1829 , and was the second intercollegiate sporting event ( following the first Varsity Cricket Match by 2 years ) . The interest in the first Boat Race and subsequent matches led the town of Henley - on - Thames to begin hosting an annual regatta in 1839 . Founded in 1818 , Leander Club is the world ' s oldest public rowing club . The second oldest club which still exists is the Der Hamburger und Germania Ruder Club which was founded 1836 and marked the beginning of rowing as an organized sport in Germany . During the 19th century , as in England , wager matches in North America between professionals became very popular attracting vast crowds . The Detroit Boat Club was established as the first rowing exclusive club in 1839 in the US . In 1843 , the first American college rowing club was formed at Yale University . The Harvard - Yale Regatta is the oldest intercollegiate sporting event in the United States , having been contested every year since 1852 ( excepting interruptions for wars ) . FISA . FISA , the “ Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d ’ Aviron ” in French ( or the English equivalent " International Federation of Rowing Associations " ) was founded by representatives from France , Switzerland , Belgium , Adriatica ( now a part of Italy ) and Italy in Turin on 25 June 1892 . It is the oldest international sports federation in the Olympic movement . FISA first organized a European Rowing Championships in 1893 . An annual World Rowing Championships was introduced in 1962 . Rowing has also been conducted at the Olympic Games since 1900 ( cancelled at the first modern Games in 1896 due to bad weather ) . Equipment . Racing boat s ( often called " shells " ) are long , narrow , and broadly semi - circular in cross - section in order to reduce drag to a minimum . There is some trade off between boat speed and stability in choice of hull shape . They usually have a fin towards the rear , to help prevent roll and yaw and to increase the effectiveness of the rudder . Originally made from wood , shells are now almost always made from a composite material ( usually a double skin of carbon - fibre reinforced plastic with a sandwich of honeycomb material ) for strength and weight advantages . FISA rules specify minimum weights for each class of boat so that no individual team will gain a great advantage from the use of expensive materials or technology . There are several different types of boats . They are classified using : Although sculling and sweep boats are generally identical to each other ( except having different riggers ) , they are referred to using different names : With the smaller boats , specialist versions of the shells for sculling can be made lighter . The riggers in sculling apply the forces symmetrically to each side of the boat , whereas in sweep oared racing these forces are staggered alternately along the boat . The sweep oared boat has to be stiffer to handle these unmatched forces , so consequently requires more bracing and is usually heavier – a pair ( 2 - ) is usually a more robust boat than a double scull ( 2x ) for example , and being heavier is also slower when used as a double scull . In theory this could also apply to the 4x and 8x , but most rowing clubs cannot afford to have a dedicated large hull which might be rarely used and instead generally opt for versatility in their fleet by using stronger shells which can be rigged for either sweep rowing or sculling . The symmetrical forces also make sculling more efficient than rowing : the double scull is faster than the coxless pair , and the quadruple scull is faster than the coxless four . One additional boat is the " queep " , a coxed or non - coxed shell . The bow and stroke positions have a set of sculling riggers and two and three have a sweep set . These shells have been used in the UK and recently at a club in Victoria BC , Canada . In addition to the queep the " trop " and the " coxed trop " are become more mainstream . They are mainly rowed in central Canada . The trop shell consists of three people where the bow has a pair of sculling oars , and 2 , 3 each a sweeping oar . A coxed trop is the same configuration as the trop plus a coxed seated at the stern of the boat . Many adjustments can be made to the equipment to accommodate the physiques of the crew . Collectively these adjustments are known as the boat ' s rigging . Steering . Single and double sculls are usually steered by the scullers pulling harder on one side or the other . In other boats , there is a rudder , controlled by the coxswain , if present , or by one of the crew . In the latter case , the rudder cable is attached to the toe of one of his shoes which can pivot about the ball of the foot , moving the cable left or right . The bowman may steer since he has the best vision when looking over his shoulder . On straighter courses , the strokesman may steer , since he can point the stern of the boat at some landmark at the start of the course . On international courses , landmarks for the steersmen , consisting of two aligned poles , are provided . Oars . Oars are used to propel the boat . They are long ( sculling : 250 – 300 cm ; rowing 340 – 360 cm ) poles with one flat end about 50 cm long and 25 cm wide , called the blade . Classic oars were made out of wood , but modern oars are made from more expensive and durable synthetic material , the most common being carbon fiber . An oar is often referred to as a " blade " in the case of sweep oar rowing and as a " scull " in the case of sculling . A sculling oar is shorter and has a smaller blade area than the equivalent sweep oar . The combined blade area of a pair of sculls is however greater than that of a single sweep oar , so the oarsman when sculling is working against more water than when rowing sweep - oared . He is able to do this because the body action in sculling is more anatomically efficient ( due to the symmetry ) . Colours . The " spoon " of oars is normally painted with the colours of the club to which they belong . This greatly simplifies identification of boats at a distance . Indoor rowing . Ergometer rowing machines ( colloquially " ergs " or " ergo " ) simulate the rowing action and provide a means of training on land when waterborne training is restricted , and of measuring rowing fitness . Ergometers do not simulate the lateral balance challenges , the exact resistance of water , or the exact motions of true rowing including the sweep of the oar handles . For that reason ergometer scores are generally not used as the sole selection criterion for crews , and technique training is limited to the basic body position and movements . However , this action can still allow a comparable workout to those experienced on the water . Indoor rowing has become popular as a sport in its own right with numerous indoor competitions ( and the annual World Championship CRASH - B Sprints in Boston ) during the winter off - season . Transportation . Boats are conveyed to competitions on special trailers accommodating up to 20 boats . Boat storage and boat houses . Racing boats are stored in boat house s . These are specially designed storage areas which usually consist of a long two - story building with a large door at one end which leads out to a pontoon or slipway on the river or lakeside . The boats are stored on racks ( horizontal bars , usually metal ) on the ground floor . Oars , riggers , and other equipment is stored around the boats . Boat houses are typically associated with rowing club s and include some social facilities on the upper floor : a cafe , bar or gym . Competition . Rowers may take part in the sport for their leisure or they may row competitively . There are different types of competition in the sport of rowing . In the U . S . all types of races are referred to as " regattas " whereas this term is only used in the UK for head - to - head or multi - lane races ( such as those that take place at Dorney Lake ) , which generally take place in the summer season . Time trials occur in the UK during the winter , and are referred to as Head race s . Rowing is unusual in the demands it places on competitors . The standard world championship race distance of 2 , 000 metres is long enough to have a large endurance element , but short enough ( typically 5 . 5 to 7 . 5 minutes ) to feel like a sprint . This means that rowers have some of the highest power outputs of athletes in any sport . At the same time the motion involved in the sport compresses the rowers ' lungs , limiting the amount of oxygen available to them . This requires rowers to tailor their breathing to the stroke , typically inhaling and exhaling twice per stroke , unlike most other sports such as cycling where competitors can breathe freely . Side by side . Most races that are held in the spring and summer feature side by side racing also called a regatta ; all the boats start at the same time from a stationary position and the winner is the boat that crosses the finish line first . The number of boats in a race typically varies between two ( which is sometimes referred to as a " dual race " ) to six , but any number of boats can start together if the course is wide enough . The standard length races for the Olympics and the World Rowing Championships is 2 , 000 m long , 1 , 500 – 2 , 000 m for US high school races on the east coast and 1 , 000 m for " masters " rowers ( rowers older than 27 ) . However the race distance can and does vary from " dashes " or sprints , which may be 500 m long , to races of marathon or ultra - marathon length races such as the Tour du Léman in Switzerland which is 160 km , and the 2 day , 185 km Corvallis to Portland Regatta held in Oregon , USA . In the UK , regattas are generally between 500 m and 2 , 000 m long . A feature of the end of twentieth century rowing was the development of non - olympic multicrew racing boats , typically fixed seat - gigs , pilot boats and in Finland church - or longboats . The most usual craft in races are held around the coasts of Britain during summer months is the Cornish pilot gig , most typically in the south - west , with crews of 6 from local towns and races of varying distances . The Cornish pilot gig was designed and built to ferry harbour and river pilots to and from ships in fierce coastal waters . The boat needed to be stable and fast with the large crew hence making it ideal for its modern racing usage . In Finland 14 - oared churchboats race throughout the summer months , usually on lakes , and often with mixed crews . The largest gathering sees over 7000 rowers mainly rowing the 60 km course at Sulkava near the eastern border over a long weekend in mid July . The weekend features the World Masters churchboat event which also includes a 2 km dash . Two traditional non - standard distance shell races are the annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge and the Harvard - Yale Boat Race which cover courses of approximately four miles ( roughly 6 . 5 km ) . The Henley Royal Regatta is also raced upon a non - standard distance at 1 mile , 550 yards ( 2 , 112 meters ) . In general , multi - boat competitions are organized in a series of rounds , with the fastest boats in each heat qualifying for the next round . The losing boats from each heat may be given a second chance to qualify through a repechage . The World Rowing Championships offers multi - lane racing in heats , finals and repechages . At Henley Royal Regatta two crews compete side by side in each round , in a straightforward knock - out format , with no repechages . Head races . Head race s are time trial / processional races that take place from autumn ( fall ) to early spring ( depending on local conditions ) . Boats begin with a rolling start at interval s of 10 – 20 seconds , and are timed over a set distance . Head courses usually vary in length from 2 , 000 m to 12 , 000 m , though there are longer races such as the Boston Rowing Marathon and shorter such as Pairs Head . The oldest , and arguably most famous , head race is the Head of the River Race , founded by Steve Fairbairn in 1926 which takes place each March on the river Thames in London , United Kingdom . Head racing was exported to the United States in the 1950s , and the Head of the Charles Regatta held each October on the Charles River in Boston , Massachusetts , USA is now the largest rowing event in the world . These processional races are known as " Head Races " , because , as with bumps racing , the fastest crew is awarded the title " Head of the River " ( as in " head of the class " ) . It was not deemed feasible to run bumps racing on the Tideway , so a timed format was adopted and soon caught on . Time trials are sometimes used to determine who competes in an event where there is a limited number of entries , for example the qualifying races for Henley Royal Regatta , and " rowing on " and " getting on " for the Oxford and Cambridge Bumps race s respectively . Bumps races . A bumps race is a multi - day race beginning with crews lined up along the river at set intervals . They start simultaneously and all pursue the boat ahead while avoiding being bumped by a boat from behind . If a crew overtakes or makes physical contact with the crew ahead , a " bump " is awarded . As a result , damage to boats and equipment is common during bumps racing . To avoid damage the cox of the crew being bumped may concede the bump before contact is actually made . The next day , the bumping crew will start ahead of any crews that have been bumped . The positions at the end of the last race are used to set the positions on the first day of the races the next year . Oxford and Cambridge Universities hold bumps races for their respective colleges twice a year , and there are also " Town Bumps " races in both cities , open to non - university crews . Oxford ' s races are organised by City of Oxford Rowing Club and Cambridge ' s are organised by the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association . Stake races . The stake format was often used in early American races . Competitors line up at the start , race to a stake , moored boat , or buoy some distance away , and return . The 180° turn requires mastery of steering . These races are popular with spectators because one may watch both the start and finish . Usually only two boats would race at once to avoid collision . The Green Mountain Head Regatta continues to use the stake format but it is run as a head race with an interval start . A similar type of racing is found in UK coastal rowing , where a number of boats race out to a given point from the coast and then return fighting rough water all the way . World championships and Olympics . The Olympic Games are held every four years , where only select boat classes are raced ( 14 in total ) : At the end of each year , the FISA holds the World Rowing Championships with events in 22 different boat classes . Athletes generally consider the Olympic classes to be premier events and are more interested in rowing in these than at the World Championships . During Olympic years only non - Olympic boats compete at the World Championships . Rules of racing . There are many differing sets of rules governing racing and these are generally defined by the governing body of the sport in a particular country — e . g . , British Rowing in England and Wales , Rowing Australia in Australia , and USRowing in the United States . In international competitions , the rules are set out by the world governing body , the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d ' Aviron ( FISA ) . The rules are mostly similar but do vary ; for example , British Rowing requires coxswain s to wear buoyancy aids at all times , whereas FISA rules do not . The crew . In all boats , with the exception of single sculls , each rower is numbered in sequential order , low numbers at the bow , up to the highest at the stern . The person seated on the first seat is called the bowman , or just ' bow ' , whilst the rower closest to the stern is called the ' strokeman ' or just ' stroke ' . There are some exceptions to this – some UK coastal rowers , and in France , Spain , and Italy rowers number from stern to bow . In addition to this , certain crew members have other titles and roles . In an 8 + the stern pair are responsible for setting the stroke rate and rhythm for the rest of the boat to follow . The middle four ( sometimes called the " engine room " or " power house " ) are usually the less technical , but more powerful rowers in the crew , whilst the bow pair are the more technical and generally regarded as the pair to set up the balance of the boat . They also have most influence on the line the boat steers . The coxswain ( or simply the cox ) is the member who sits in the stern ( except in bowloaders ) facing the bow , steers the boat , and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers . In most levels of rowing there are different weight classes – typically " open " or " heavyweight " and lightweight ( discussed below ) . Competitive rowing favours tall , muscular athletes due to the additional leverage height provides in pulling the oar through the water as well as the explosive power needed to propel the boat at high speed . Open or heavyweight rowers of both sexes tend to be very tall , broad - shouldered , have long arms and legs as well as tremendous cardiovascular capacity and very low body fat ratios . Olympic or International level heavyweight male oarsmen are typically anywhere between 6 ' 3 " and 6 ' 9 " ( 190 cm to 206 cm ) tall with most being around 6 ' 6 " ( 198 cm ) and weighing approximately 225 lb ( 102 kg ) with about 6 to 7 % body fat . Heavyweight women are slightly shorter at around 6 ' 1 " ( 180 cm ) and lighter than their male counterparts . Lightweights . Unlike most other non - combat sports , rowing has a special weight category called " lightweight " ( Lwt for short ) . According to FISA , this weight category was introduced " to encourage more universality in the sport especially among nations with less statuesque people " . The first lightweight events were held at the World Championships in 1974 for men and 1985 for women . Lightweight rowing was added to the Olympics in 1996 . At international level the limits are : Olympic lightweight boat classes are limited to : At the junior level ( in the United States ) , regattas require each rower to weigh in at least two hours before their race ; they are sometimes given two chances to make weight at smaller regattas , with the exception of older more prestigious regattas , which allow only one opportunity to make weight . For juniors in the United States , the lightweight cutoff for men is 160 . 0 lb . ; for women , it is 130 . 0 lb . In the fall the weight limits are increased for women , with the cutoff being 135 lb . At the collegiate level ( in the United States ) , the lightweight weight requirements can be different depending on competitive season . For fall regattas ( typically head races ) , the lightweight cutoff for men is 165 . 0 lb . and 135 . 0 lb . for women . In the spring season ( typically sprint races ) , the lightweight cutoff for men is 160 . 0 lb . , with a boat average of 155 . 0 lb . for the crew ; for women , the lightweight cutoff is 130 . 0 lb . Women . For most of its history , rowing has been a male dominated sport . Although rowing ' s roots as a sport in the modern Olympics can be traced back to the original 1896 games in Athens , it was not until the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal that women were allowed to participate — well after their fellow athletes in similar sports such as swimming , athletics , cycling , and canoeing . Despite its male domination , women ' s rowing can be traced back to the early 19th century , and an image of a women ' s double scull race made the cover of Harper ' s Weekly in 1870 . Wellesley College in Massachusetts was the first school to organize a competitive rowing team for women in the late 19th century . The 19th Century Cornish rower Ann Glanville achieved national celebrity ; her all - women crew often winning against the best male teams . In 1927 , the first rowing event for women between Oxford and Cambridge was held . For the first few years it was an exhibition , and it later became a race . Ernestine Bayer , called the " Mother of Women ' s Rowing " , formed the Philadelphia Girls ' Rowing Club in 1938 . In 1954 , the first women ' s events were added to the European Rowing Championships . In 1988 , the first Henley Women ' s Regatta was held . Henley Royal Regatta first included a women ' s singles event over the full course in 1993 , followed in 2000 by eights ( now Remenham Challenge Cup ) and 2001 by quadruple sculls ( now Princess Grace Challenge Cup ) . On April 27 , 1997 , one of the last bastions of rowing was breached when , at an Extraordinary General Meeting , Leander Club voted to admit women as members . This rule met a condition imposed by UK Sport and qualified Leander to receive a £1 . 5 million grant for refurbishment from the Lottery Sports Fund . At the international level , women ' s rowing traditionally has been dominated by Eastern European countries , such as Romania , Russia , and Bulgaria , although other countries such as Germany , the Netherlands , Canada , and New Zealand often field competitive teams . The United States also has had very competitive crews , and in recent years these crews have become even more competitive given the surge in women ' s collegiate rowing due to Title IX . Because Title IX mandates equal money spent on men ' s and women ' s sports , rowing is particularly useful due to the extremely high costs of equipment per athlete . Therefore , many schools open a rowing program only to women to financially counteract the prevalence of men ' s sports . In the United States , it is important to note that Women ' s Rowing is an NCAA sport , while Men ' s Rowing chooses to remain governed by its own regulatory body , the Intercollegiate Rowing Association ( IRA ) . The IRA , formed in 1895 , preceded the NCAA by at least ten years and provided a guideline for the rules of eligibility and sportsmanship later adopted by the NCAA when it was formed . Adaptive athletes . Adaptive rowing is a special category of races for those with physical disabilities . Under FISA rules there are 5 boat classes for adaptive rowers ; mixed ( 2 men and 2 women plus cox ) LTA ( Legs , Trunk , Arms ) , mixed intellectual disability ( 2 men and 2 women plus cox ) LTA ( Legs , Trunk , Arms ) , mixed ( 1 man and 1 woman ) TA ( Trunk and Arms ) , and men ' s and women ' s AS ( Arms and Shoulders ) . Events are held at the World Rowing Championships and were also held at the 2008 Summer Paralympics . Terminology and event nomenclature . Rowing events use a systematic nomenclature for the naming of events , so that age , gender , ability and size of boat can all be expressed in a few numbers and letters . The first letter to be used is ' L ' or ' Lt ' for lightweight . If absent then the crew is open weight . This can be followed by either a ' J ' or ' B ' to signify junior ( under 19 years ) or under 23 years respectively . If absent the crew is open age ( the letter ' O ' is sometimes used ) . Next is either an ' M ' or ' W ' to signify if the crew are men or women . Then there is a number to show how many athletes are in the boat ( 1 , 2 , 4 or 8 ) . An ' x ' following the number indicates a sculling boat . Finally either a + or – is added to indicate whether the boat is coxed or coxswainless . Some events will use an experience rating to separate races . In the UK boats are classed as " Elite " , " Senior " , " Intermediate 1 / 2 / 3 " or " Novice " , depending on the number of wins the athletes have accumulated . Masters events use age ranges to separate crews of older rowers . Examples :