Rowing

Pulling power

A straight race to the finish over two kilometres of open water, rowing requires crews to fight not only the competition but also the wash, the wind, and anything else the weather throws out. Often regarded as one of the toughest endurance sports, rowers push their bodies to the brink, their muscles burning and their lungs screaming for air, as they propel their boats forward in perfect synchronisation. Unlike every other sport at the FISU Games, competitors will cross the finish line backwards, often unaware if their exertions have been enough for a medal. The finest student-athletes in the world are set to descend on Regattabahn Duisburg, a former quarry lake and host of numerous big meets including the 1989 Universiade and, more recently, the 2023 Canoe Sprint World Championships. Only weeks after the curtain came down on that event, the scaffolding went up and the bulldozers moved in as part of a EUR 30 million redevelopment programme. 

Rules

Competitive rowing involves crews of one, two, four or eight people propelling a boat using oars fixed to the vessel. In some races such as the eight, crews include a coxswain, who steers the boat and directs the crew from the stern, where they sit facing their teammates. Rowers have one oar each except in sculling, when each rower has two oars (or 'sculls'), one on each side of the boat. The progression system ensures fair competition: crews compete in heats, with the top two or three advancing while the remainder enter repechages - a second-chance round - to qualify. Finals are categorised, with only the A Final determining medal positions (1st-6th place). 

FAST FACTS

Fun Facts

A competitive rower can burn calories at a rate of up to 1,200 per hour, making it one of the most physically exerting sports.