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Did you know that Rowing first originated not as a sport, but as a means of transport in the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece and Rome? It was also used in warfare, since superiority in the water was a sure way to win a war. The Athenians, for example, frequently won because their warships would ram enemy ships at great speed!

In the 1700s, rowing became popular with ordinary folk, and with watermen racing down the Thames in barges. The Thames was also home to three of the most famous rowing events in the world: the Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race (the oldest rowing contest in the world, held since 1715), the boat races between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the Henley Royal Regatta.

The annual rowing regatta between Oxford and Cambridge in 1829 heralded the beginning of the sport’s wide appeal. By the 19th century, Rowing gained popularity in Europe and then America. The first champion was Toronto’s Ned Hanlan, who also has the distinction of being the first true world champion in any sport! As you can see, rowing has had a history rich in tradition.

Rowing in the United States began in New York, and it continued to be a center of rowing activity until the 1950s. Today, Philadelphia and Boston are the two major American cities on the rowing map, with long, noble histories.

Baron Coubertin had a special liking for Rowing, and it was one of the original Olympic sports. Bad weather, however, postponed its scheduled debut at Athens in 1896, so its first appearance was at the 1900 Olympics. Women’s Rowing debuted at the 1976 Montreal Games.