Rowing

History

Before engines and sails propelled vessels over the water, humankind relied on their own strength to make a boat move: rowing. Following the trait of any activity where competing is natural, rowing became a sport.

In the old days, even big ships were propelled by big heavy oars, usually rowed by slaves. This would only change when sails came about, leaving oars for small vessels. Despite evidence that points that rowing has been used to propel vessels for a long time, the first competitions were only held in the 11th century and were more like a celebration.

Little by little it took on bigger proportions. For example, in 1300 the term regatta to refer to traditional water competitions started being used in Venice. Venetians were also responsible for developing the events with coxswains. Then, rowing went through significant changes at the end of the 18th century and rules were drawn up. As a result, in 1775, the first official regattas began to be held.

Improved boats and oars began to make a difference soon after. In 1829, with competition adapted boats, the traditional boat race between Oxford and Cambridge began to be held. A tradition kept until today. In 1892, the International Rowing Federation was founded and the sport took an important step to be included in the Olympic programme, making its debut in 1900 in Paris. Indeed, rowing has been an Olympic sport ever since.

Curiosities

Unknown champion
To this day, the 1900 Games in Paris – when rowing made its debut - hold a mystery which has never and probably will never be solved. Who was the French boy who won the gold medal alongside Dutch rowers Antoine Brandt and Roelof Klein?

Despite catching the young champion in a picture, his name and age are not known. The story of the young gold medallist – perhaps the youngest ever in history – is the result of a common practice at that edition of the Games.  Favourites to win, the Dutch were surprised by Frenchmen Martinet and Waleff, finishing almost nine seconds behind them in the qualifiers. The reason: While the Dutch boat carried an adult coxswain – Hermanus Brockmann, 60gk - the French used a child to gain advantage.

The strategy worked during qualifiers, but the Dutch caught onto it and did the same in the final. Hence, the young champion was chosen to replace Brockamnn in the final – the rules at the time allowed for different nationalities to compete together. The Dutch won the final with the time of 7:34.2, while the French finished in 7:34.4, winning the silver medal.

Father of a star
American athlete John “Jack” Kelly won the single skiff event in the 1920 Games in Antwerp by only one second, beating Jack Beresford from Great Britain in their own private battle. Famous for being undefeated in 126 events, Kelly would see his family grow even more famous.

First, he would see his son John Jr. compete in four Olympic Games and win the traditional Diamond Scull Regatta twice, in 1947 and 1949.  But the family got even more famous thanks to John Kelly’s daughter, American actress Grace Kelly, who also became the Princess of Monaco.

See also

Confederação Brasileira de Remo (CBR)
Site: www.remobrasil.com
Federação Internacional de Remo (FISA): www.worldrowing.com