Rowing (sport)

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A sweep boat (coxless pair)

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A sculling boat (double sculls)

Rowing is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports because the oars are attached to the boat using oarlocks. Paddles are not connected to the boat. Rowing is divided into sculling and sweep rowing. In sculling, each rower has two oars—one in each hand. In sweep rowing each rower holds one oar with both hands. There are several boat classes for competitions. Single sculls are just one person in a small boat. Shells with eight rowers and a coxswain are called eights. There are many types of racing, but most high level racing is on calm water courses 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long with several lanes marked using buoys.

The first rowing races were on the River Thames in London, in the early 17th century. In the 18th century British public schools set up boat clubs. Later clubs were started at universities in England and America and public rowing clubs started.

Rowing is one of the oldest Olympic sports. It was on the programme for the 1896 games but the race did not happen because of bad weather. Since then Male rowers have competed in all the Olympics. Women's rowing was added to the Olympic programme in 1976. Today, there are fourteen boat classes which race at the Olympics. 150 countries now have rowing federations. The World Rowing Federation, holds annual World Rowing Championships with twenty-two boat classes.

Rowing (sport) Media

• Doggett Coat Badge - Thomas Rowlands.jpg

  The finish of the Doggett's Coat and Badge. Painting by Thomas Rowlandson.

• Boathouse Row-wide.JPG

  Philadelphia's iconic Boathouse Row, Home of the Schuylkill Navy

• ROWING Women's Single Sculls Final - 28th Summer Universiade 2015 Gwangju.webm

  Women's single sculls final at the 28th Summer Universiade 2015

• Israeli boathouse.jpg

  Racing shells stored in a boathouse.

• DSCN1750-harald-without-nose.jpg

  A damaged 8+, showing cross section near the bows and the skin construction.

• Concept2 Indoor Rowers.JPG

  A row of Concept2 "Model C" ergometers

• Rowing at the 2012 Summer Olympics 9240 Mens lightweight coxless four - Heat 2 - GBR CZE.jpg

  A side by side race at the 2012 Olympic Games – Men's lightweight coxless four

• Two crews racing in the annual Lagan Head of the River, Belfast. The closer boat is being overtaken by the boat on the far side.

• Bumps race Oxford 1999.ogv

  A "bump" during Torpids at the University of Oxford, 1999: Jesus College Men's 1st VIII catch Hertford College.