Although rowing boats have been used for centuries, rowing as a formal sport dates back to the early 1700s when London river taxi operators began competing on the Thames. In around 1715 the first recorded rowing competition took place in London and throughout the eighteenth century, the sport's popularity grew across Europe and in America. It became increasingly popular amongst educational institutions and in 1829 the first Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities was staged.

In 1892 the International Rowing Federation (FISA) was founded and took on responsibility for the worldwide development and advancement of the sport. It is supported by national governing bodies, of which the UK version is British Rowing. British Rowing is also responsible for the identification of talented rowers to represent Great Britain in international competition.

You can find out more about the different types of rowing with British Rowing.

There are many different types of rowing but the Olympic regatta features eight mens and 6 womens classes covering a range of sculling and sweep-oared events. The Olympic class events are all raced in fine boats with long, narrow shells and are contested by pairs, fours or eights, some with coxes and some without. Find out more about the Olympic rowing regatta with the British Olympic Association.

Rowing and Disabilities

Rowing is the youngest sport in the Paralympic Games. It was introduced in 2005 and held its first Paralympic competitions at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Adaptive rowing is open to male and female athletes, and is divided into four boat classes which are included in FISA's World Championship programme. Adaptive implies that the equipment is adapted to the user to practice the sport, rather than the sport being 'adapted' to the user.

There are currently four classes, which involve a coxed four, a double scull, and two single sculling events. The coxed four and double scull are mixed gender events, while the single events are separate competitions for men and women. All races are held over a 1,000-metre course.

Find out more about rowing with Wikipedia and BBC Sports Academy.

Click here to watch Team GBs incredible win in the mens coxless fours final from the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Watch the Mens lightweight fours final at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Visit BBC Radio to hear Chris Evans giving rowing a go.

Great Britain winning gold at the 2010 World Cup

Great Britain talking about the epic coxless fours in Beijing

Paralympic rowing highlights

Guide to rowing