Rowing at the Summer Olympics

Rowing at the Summer Olympics has been part of the competition since its debut in the 1900 Summer Olympics. Rowing was on the program at the 1896 Summer Olympics but was cancelled due to bad weather.[1] Only men were allowed to compete until the women's events were introduced at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal which gave national federations the incentive to support women's events and catalysed growth in women's rowing.[2] 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.

Rowing at the Summer Olympics
Governing bodyFISA
Events14 (men: 7; women: 7)
Games

Events

At the 2016 and other recent Olympics the following 14 events were offered:

The lightweight events were threatened in 2002 when the Programme Commission of the IOC recommended that, outside 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.

To satisfy the IOC's aim for gender equality it has been proposed that from the 2020 Olympics onwards the men's lightweight fours will be removed and the women's coxless fours reintroduced. The IOC accepted that proposal in June 2017.[3]

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 – as recently as the 1990s. The primary loss has been in boats with coxswains, 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)
  • Men's Coxed Four with Inriggers[4] (1912 only)
  • Six-Man Naval Rowing Boats (1906 only)
  • 17-Man Naval Rowing Boats (1906 only)

Other non-Olympic boatclasses, which still compete in World Championships, are currently: men's & women's lightweight single sculls, lightweight quadruple sculls and lightweight coxless pair.

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 (1750 m), in St. Louis in 1904 (3218 m), in London in 1908 (2412 m), and again in London in 1948 (1850 m). The 1908 and 1948 were held over the Henley Royal Regatta course.

Women's races were raced over 1,000 meters until 1988 when they were changed to 2,000 meters.[5]

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.

Qualification

There is a limited number of crews permitted to race, so the International Rowing Federation 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 if members of that crew race in the Olympics they must race in that event.

Medal table

The numbers below are after the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 United States (USA)33322489
2 East Germany (GDR)337848
3 Great Britain (GBR)31241368
4 Germany (GER)23141451
5 Romania (ROM)1910938
6 Soviet Union (URS)12201042
7 Australia (AUS)11151440
8 New Zealand (NZL)1131024
9 Italy (ITA)10141438
10 Canada (CAN)9171541
11 France (FRA)8151437
12 Netherlands (NED)7121231
13 Switzerland (SUI)78924
14 Denmark (DEN)751224
15 West Germany (FRG)44614
16 United Team of Germany (EUA)4419
17 Poland (POL)431118
18 Norway (NOR)36817
19 Bulgaria (BUL)34714
20 Finland (FIN)3137
21 Czechoslovakia (TCH)22711
22 Belarus (BLR)2147
23 China (CHN)1449
24 Croatia (CRO)1315
 Czech Republic (CZE)1315
26 Slovenia (SLO)1135
 Yugoslavia (YUG)1135
28 Argentina (ARG)1124
29 South Africa (RSA)1113
 Ukraine (UKR)1113
31 Russia (RUS)1023
32 Belgium (BEL)0628
33 Austria (AUT)0325
34 Estonia (EST)0213
35 Sweden (SWE)0202
36 Uruguay (URU)0134
37 Greece (GRE)0123
 Hungary (HUN)0123
 Lithuania (LTU)0123
40 Ireland (IRL)0101
 Spain (ESP)0101
42 Unified Team (EUN)0011
Totals (42 nations)255255258768

Rowing medal leaders (by Summer Olympiad)

Games of Leader Gold Silver Bronze Total
 France, 1900 Paris  France (FRA) 2 3 1 6
 United States, 1904 St. Louis  United States (USA) 5 4 4 13
 United Kingdom, 1908 London  Great Britain (GBR) 4 3 1 8
 Sweden, 1912 Stockholm  Great Britain (GBR) 2 2 0 4
 Belgium, 1920 Antwerp  United States (USA) 3 1 0 4
 France, 1924 Paris  United States (USA) 2 1 2 5
 Netherlands, 1928 Amsterdam  United States (USA) 2 2 1 5
 United States, 1932 Los Angeles  United States (USA) 3 1 0 4
 Germany, 1936 Berlin  Germany (GER) 5 1 1 7
 United Kingdom, 1948 London  Great Britain (GBR) 2 1 0 3
 Finland, 1952 Helsinki  United States (USA) 2 0 1 3
 Australia, 1956 Melbourne  United States (USA) 3 2 1 6
 Italy, 1960 Rome  United Team of Germany (EUA) 3 1 0 4
 Japan, 1964 Tokyo  United States (USA) 2 1 1 4
 Mexico, 1968 Mexico City  East Germany (GDR) 2 1 0 3
 West Germany, 1972 Munich  East Germany (GDR) 3 1 3 7
 Canada, 1976 Montreal  East Germany (GDR) 9 3 2 14
 Soviet Union, 1980 Moscow  East Germany (GDR) 11 1 2 14
 United States, 1984 Los Angeles  Romania (ROU) 6 2 0 8
 South Korea, 1988 Seoul  East Germany (GDR) 8 1 1 10
 Spain, 1992 Barcelona  Germany (GER) 4 3 3 10
 United States, 1996 Atlanta  Australia (AUS) 2 1 3 6
 Australia, 2000 Sydney  Romania (ROU) 3 0 0 3
 Greece, 2004 Athens  Romania (ROU) 3 0 0 3
 China, 2008 Beijing  Great Britain (GBR) 2 2 2 6
 United Kingdom, 2012 London  Great Britain (GBR) 4 2 3 9
 Brazil, 2016 Rio de Janeiro  Great Britain (GBR) 3 2 0 5
 Japan, 2020 Tokyo 0 0 0 0

Multiple medalists

The table shows those who have won at least 3 gold medals.

Athlete (nation) Olympics  Gold  Silver Bronze Total Notes
Elisabeta Lipă
 Romania
1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 5 2 1 8 20 years between first and last gold medal
Steve Redgrave
 Great Britain
1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 5 0 1 6 Gold medals in 1984 (M4+), 1988 (M2- with Andy Holmes), 1992 and 1996 (M2- with Matthew Pinsent) and 2000 (M4-). Only endurance athlete to win Olympic gold at five consecutive games.
Georgeta Damian
 Romania
2000, 2004, 2008 5 0 1 6 Won the pair and the eights in both 2000 and 2004, and the pair again in 2008
Doina Ignat
 Romania
1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 4 1 1 6 Part of Romania's three-straight gold medalist eight
Kathrin Boron
 Germany
1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 4 0 1 5 Four straight Olympic golds. Bronze in her final Olympics in the Quadruple Sculls
Viorica Susanu
 Romania
1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 4 0 1 5 Won three medals in the women's eight, and two in the pair
Matthew Pinsent
 Great Britain
1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 4 0 0 4 Four straight Olympic golds. Won with Steve Redgrave in the pair in 1992 and 1996. In the coxless four in 2000 and in 2004
Jack Beresford
 Great Britain
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
Constanța Burcică
 Romania
1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 3 1 1 5 Won three gold medals in the women's lightweight double sculls
Elena Georgescu
 Romania
1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 3 1 1 5 Coxswain of Romania's women's eight
Drew Ginn
 Australia
1996, 2004, 2008, 2012 3 1 0 4 Member of the Oarsome Foursome
Eskild Ebbesen
 Denmark
1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 3 0 2 5 Won all his medals in the lightweight coxless four
Marnie McBean
 Canada
1992, 1996 3 0 1 4 Along with rowing partner Kathleen Heddle, Canadian with the most gold medals
Kathleen Heddle
 Canada
1992, 1996 3 0 1 4 Won all her medals with rowing partner Marnie McBean
James Tomkins
 Australia
1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 3 0 1 4 Most medaled Australian rower
John B. Kelly Sr.
 United States
1920, 1924 3 0 0 3 First rower to win 3 gold medals. Father of movie star turned princess Grace Kelly
Paul Costello
 United States
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.
Vyacheslav Ivanov
 Soviet Union
1956, 1960, 1964 3 0 0 3 Won all his medals in the single sculls
Siegfried Brietzke
 East Germany
1972, 1976, 1980 3 0 0 3 First German triple gold medalist. Won in the pair and the coxless four
Pertti Karppinen
 Finland
1976, 1980, 1984 3 0 0 3 Won all his medals in the single sculls
Agostino Abbagnale
 Italy
1988, 1996, 2000 3 0 0 3 His brothers Carmine and Giuseppe each won 2 gold medals.
Liliana Gafencu
 Romania
1996, 2000, 2004 3 0 0 3 Won all three medals in Romania's women's eight
Elle Logan
 United States
2008, 2012, 2016 3 0 0 3 Won all three medals in USA women's eight
Pete Reed
 Great Britain
2008, 2012, 2016 3 0 0 3 Two wins in coxless four, then in eight
Andrew Triggs Hodge
 Great Britain
2008, 2012, 2016 3 0 0 3 Two wins in coxless four, then in eight

Men's events

Event9600040812202428323648525660646872768084889296000408121620Years
Current program
Single sculls 28
Double sculls 25
Quadruple sculls 11
Coxless pairs 24
Coxless fours 25
Eights 28
Lightweight double sculls 7
Past events
Coxed pairs 18
Coxed fours •• 20
Coxed four, with inriggers 1
Lightweight coxless fours 6
Total05544577777777777 888888888887

Women's events

Event9600040812202428323648525660646872768084889296000408121620Years
Current program
Single sculls 12
Double sculls 12
Quadruple sculls 12
Coxless pairs 12
Coxless fours 2
Eights 12
Lightweight Double sculls 7
Past events
Coxed fours 4
Total00000000000000000 666666666667

Nations

Number of rowers from each nation by year of Olympics, starting with 1896 (when none competed due to bad weather) then 1900 through 2016.

Nation9600040812202428323648525660646872768084889296000408121620Years
 Algeria (ALG) 1213126
 Angola (ANG) 21
 Argentina (ARG) 993269912918107662286210219
 Australasia (ANZ) 101
 Australia (AUS) 1011128142625261116131625162845454548472922
 Austria (AUT) 6297441073163765121385319
 Azerbaijan (AZE) 222
 Bahamas (BAH) 11
 Belarus (BLR) 171011135106
 Belgium (BEL) 11106201521741275215768954331124
 Bermuda (BER) 112
 Bohemia (BOH) 21
 Brazil (BRA) 5218212355227101010861464421
 Bulgaria (BUL) 58335234155463211
 Cameroon (CMR) 112
 Canada (CAN) 91310514111610111513151614164654402732303235302625
 Chile (CHI) 131926221410
 China (CHN) 911221310173118179
 Chinese Taipei (TPE) 21114
 Colombia (COL) 11
 Croatia (CRO) 781364537
 Cuba (CUB) 5991171417329796714
 Czech Republic (CZE) 51161412106
 Czechoslovakia (TCH) 151174811222015213426173114
 Denmark (DEN) 15110162525716141012771031313101210101322
 East Germany (GDR) 26265455445
 Ecuador (ECU) 11
 Egypt (EGY) 18161726529
 El Salvador (ESA) 122
 Estonia (EST) 171377648
 Finland (FIN) 6526512723713532215
 France (FRA) 471714232651922171316221718171623122521232121141825
 Germany (GER) 21326231626215348314848483514
 Great Britain (GBR) 1302410212315182623122681117314342304637363744474326
 Greece (GRE) 831631725445101014
 Guatemala (GUA) 212
 Hong Kong (HKG) 31334347
 Honduras (HON) 11
 Hungary (HUN) 11117623915496158208834624321
 India (IND) 213315
 Independent Olympic Athletes (IOA) 21
 Indonesia (INA) 122
 Iran (IRI) 2213
 Iraq (IRQ) 212
 Ireland (IRL) 9110113164691512
 Italy (ITA) 116172620222626212618142115522272132283120202725
 Japan (JPN) 61416591426103961213118445419
 Kazakhstan (KAZ) 13224
 Kenya (KEN) 112
 Kuwait (KUW) 11
 Latvia (LAT) 3413
 Lebanon (LIB) 11
 Libya (LBA) 11
 Lithuania (LTU) 832214107
 Mexico (MEX) 1232591132525332216
 Monaco (MON) 5113
 Myanmar (MYA) 112
 Netherlands (NED) 13412172121161213172221241017162034332630323624
 Niger (NIG) 11
 New Zealand (NZL) 111581151419182212121161116263618
 Nigeria (NGR) 11
 North Korea (PRK) 61
 Norway (NOR) 9241311492516141296116315519
 Pakistan (PAK) 31
 Paraguay (PAR) 2123
 Peru (PER) 2331116
 Philippines (PHI) 112
 Poland (POL) 6148111085113162238131512172320262621
 Portugal (POR) 1495324228
 Puerto Rico (PUR) 112
 Romania (ROU) 987149213328263230281711151816
 Russia (RUS) 24231910546
 Saar (SAA) 71
 Serbia (SRB) 3643
 Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) 662
 Singapore (SIN) 11
 Slovakia (SVK) 2123
 Slovenia (SLO) 67891026
 South Africa (RSA) 115559882561212
 South Korea (KOR) 9528243254210
 Soviet Union (URS) 2625252627265554539
 Spain (ESP) 510161831310132211491415
 Sweden (SWE) 286531691213788793122119
 Switzerland (SUI) 131113161913188171741097911116181121
 Thailand (THA) 11124
 Togo (TOG) 11
 Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) 11
 Tunisia (TUN) 21234
 Turkey (TUR) 122
 Ukraine (UKR) 201210102186
 United Team of Germany (EUA) 1226263
 Unified Team (EUN) 471
 United Arab Republic (UAR) 91
 United States (USA) 9351520262626262626262727265454535246484545444124
 Uruguay (URU) 183325253111332116
 Uzbekistan (UZB) 4113
 Vanuatu (VAN) 11
 Venezuela (VEN) 112
 Vietnam (VIE) 2223
 West Germany (FRG) 26264436385
 Zimbabwe (ZIM) 21224
 Yugoslavia (YUG) 142113112111571451011
Nations82814141419132427332533272935312530384545515560586992
Rowers108448118613618224515331331040424241033035344059347044759262760854755755555054710,030
Year9600040812202428323648525660646872768084889296000408121620

Venues

See also

References

  1. "History of Rowing at the Olympic Games" (PDF). IOC. March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  2. "Feature: the impact of Olympic inclusion on women's rowing". World Rowing. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  3. "The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games rowing programme announced". World Rowing. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  4. An "inrigger" is a boat with oarlocks attached directly on the gunwale.
  5. "Women in rowing". World Rowing. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.