Rowing at the Summer Olympics

Rowing at the Summer Olympics
Governing body FISA
Events 14 (men: 8; women: 6)
Games

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.

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:

The non-Olympic boatclasses (which still compete in World Championships) are today LM1X, LM4X, LM2-, LM4-, LM8+, LW1X, LW4X, and M2+.

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.

Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  United States (USA) 33 32 24 89
2  East Germany (GDR) 33 7 8 48
3  Great Britain (GBR) 31 24 13 68
4  Germany (GER) 23 14 14 51
5  Romania (ROM) 19 10 9 38
6  Soviet Union (URS) 12 20 10 42
7  Australia (AUS) 11 15 14 40
8  New Zealand (NZL) 11 3 10 24
9  Italy (ITA) 10 14 14 38
10  Canada (CAN) 9 17 15 41
11  France (FRA) 8 15 14 37
12  Netherlands (NED) 7 12 12 31
13  Switzerland (SUI) 7 8 9 24
14  Denmark (DEN) 7 5 12 24
15  West Germany (FRG) 4 4 6 14
16  United Team of Germany (EUA) 4 4 1 9
17  Poland (POL) 4 3 11 18
18  Norway (NOR) 3 6 8 17
19  Bulgaria (BUL) 3 4 7 14
20  Finland (FIN) 3 1 3 7
21  Czechoslovakia (TCH) 2 2 7 11
22  Belarus (BLR) 2 1 4 7
23  China (CHN) 1 4 4 9
24  Croatia (CRO) 1 3 1 5
 Czech Republic (CZE) 1 3 1 5
26  Slovenia (SLO) 1 1 3 5
 Yugoslavia (YUG) 1 1 3 5
28  Argentina (ARG) 1 1 2 4
29  South Africa (RSA) 1 1 1 3
 Ukraine (UKR) 1 1 1 3
31  Russia (RUS) 1 0 2 3
32  Belgium (BEL) 0 6 2 8
33  Austria (AUT) 0 3 2 5
34  Estonia (EST) 0 2 1 3
35  Sweden (SWE) 0 2 0 2
36  Uruguay (URU) 0 1 3 4
37  Greece (GRE) 0 1 2 3
 Hungary (HUN) 0 1 2 3
 Lithuania (LTU) 0 1 2 3
40  Spain (ESP) 0 1 0 1
 Ireland (IRL) 0 1 0 1
42  Unified Team (EUN) 0 0 1 1
Total 256 256 260 772

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

Event 96 00 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 12 16 Years
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 fours, with inriggers 1
Lightweight Coxless fours 6
Events 0 5 5 4 4 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7

Women's events

Event 96 00 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 12 16 Years
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
Events 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7

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.

Nation 96 00 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 12 16 Years
 Algeria (ALG)  121315
 Argentina (ARG)  99326991291810766228621018
 Australasia (ANZ)  101
 Australia (AUS)  10111281426252611161316251628454545484721
 Austria (AUT)  629744107316376512138518
 Azerbaijan (AZE)  21
 Belarus (BLR)  1710111355
 Belgium (BEL)  1110620152174127521576895433123
 Bermuda (BER)  11
 Bohemia (BOH)  21
 Brazil (BRA)  521821235522710101086146420
 Bulgaria (BUL)  5833523415546310
 Cameroon (CMR)  112
 Canada (CAN)  913105141116101115131516141646544027323032353024
 Chile (CHI)  1319262219
 China (CHN)  9112213101731188
 Chinese Taipei (TPE)  2113
 Colombia (COL)  11
 Croatia (CRO)  78136456
 Cuba (CUB)  599117141732979613
 Czech Republic (CZE)  511614125
 Czechoslovakia (TCH)  151174811222015213426173114
 Denmark (DEN)  151101625257161410127710313131012101021
 East Germany (GDR)  26265455445
 Egypt (EGY)  1816172658
 El Salvador (ESA)  122
 Estonia (EST)  171377648
 Finland (FIN)  6526512723713532215
 France (FRA)  4717142326519221713162217181716231225212321211424
 Germany (GER)  213262316262153483148484813
 Great Britain (GBR)  13024102123151826231226811173143423046373637444725
 Greece (GRE)  8316317254451013
 Guatemala (GUA)  212
 Hong Kong (HKG)  3133436
 Honduras (HON)  11
 Hungary (HUN)  1111762391549615820883462420
 India (IND)  21334
 Independent Olympic Athletes (IOA)  21
 Indonesia (INA)  11
 Iran (IRI)  222
 Iraq (IRQ)  21
 Ireland (IRL)  911011316469111
 Italy (ITA)  1161726202226262126181421155222721322831202024
 Japan (JPN)  6141659142610396121311844518
 Kazakhstan (KAZ)  1323
 Kenya (KEN)  112
 Kuwait (KUW)  11
 Latvia (LAT)  3413
 Lebanon (LIB)  11
 Lithuania (LTU)  832214107
 Mexico (MEX)  123259113252533215
 Monaco (MON)  5113
 Myanmar (MYA)  112
 Netherlands (NED)  134121721211612131722212410171620343326303223
 Niger (NIG)  11
 New Zealand (NZL)  111581151419182212121161116263618
 North Korea (PRK)  61
 Norway (NOR)  924131149251614129611631518
 Pakistan (PAK)  31
 Paraguay (PAR)  212
 Peru (PER)  233115
 Philippines (PHI)  112
 Poland (POL)  61481110851131622381315121723202620
 Portugal (POR)  1495324228
 Puerto Rico (PUR)  112
 Romania (ROU)  9871492133282632302817111515
 Russia (RUS)  2423191055
 Saar (SAA)  71
 Serbia (SRB)  362
 Serbia and Montenegro (SCG)  662
 Slovakia (SVK)  2123
 Slovenia (SLO)  67891026
 South Africa (RSA)  1155598825611
 South Korea (KOR)  95282432549
 Soviet Union (URS)  2625252627265554539
 Spain (ESP)  51016183131013221149114
 Sweden (SWE)  28653169121378879312218
 Switzerland (SUI)  1311131619131881717410979111161820
 Thailand (THA)  1113
 Tunisia (TUN)  2123
 Turkey (TUR)  11
 Ukraine (UKR)  20121010215
 United Team of Germany (EUA)  1226263
 Unified Team (EUN)  471
 United Arab Republic (UAR)  91
 United States (USA)  93515202626262626262627272654545352464845454423
 Uruguay (URU)  18332525311133215
 Uzbekistan (UZB)  412
 Venezuela (VEN)  11
 Vietnam (VIE)  222
 West Germany (FRG)  26264436385
 Zimbabwe (ZIM)  2123
 Yugoslavia (YUG)  142113112111571451011
Nations 0 8 2 8 14 14 14 19 13 24 27 33 25 33 27 29 35 31 25 30 38 45 45 51 55 60 58 92
Rowers 0 108 44 81 186 136 182 245 153 313 310 404 242 410 330 353 440 593 470 447 592 627 608 547 557 555 550 547 10,030
Year 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 94 98 02 06 10 14 27

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.
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