Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline.

The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water.

The sport can be both recreational, focusing on learning the techniques required, and competitive where overall fitness plays a large role.
It is also one of the oldest Olympic sports. In the United States, high school and collegiate rowing is sometimes referred to as crew

 

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The distinction between rowing and other forms of water transport, such as canoeing or kayaking, is that in rowing the oars are held in place at a pivot point that is in a fixed position relative to the boat, this point acting as a fulcrum for the oar to act as a lever. In flat water rowing, the boat (also called a shell or fine boat) is narrow to avoid drag, and the oars are attached to oarlocks at the end of outriggers extending from the sides of the boat. Racing boats also have sliding seats to allow the use of the legs in addition to the body to apply power to the oar. Like racing kayaks or canoes, most racing shells are inherently unstable. The rowing boats require oars on either side to prevent them from rolling over.

Main article: International Rowing Federation

FISA, the "Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Aviron” in French (or the English equivalent International Federation of Rowing Associations) was founded by representatives from France, Switzerland, Belgium, Adriatica (now a part of Italy) and Italy in Turin on 25 June 1892. It is the oldest international sports federation in the Olympic movement.

FISA first organized a European Rowing Championships in 1893. An annual World Rowing Championships was introduced in 1962 Rowing has also been conducted at theOlympic Games since 1900 (cancelled at the first modern Games in 1896 due to bad weather).