World Rowing Federation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
World Rowing

Sport	Rowing
Category	Sports federation
Jurisdiction	Worldwide
Membership	157
Abbreviation	WR, FISA
Founded	25 June 1892; 133 years ago (1892-06-25)
Headquarters	Lausanne, Switzerland
President	Jean-Christophe Rolland
Vice president(s)	Tricia Smith
Official website

World Rowing, also known as the World Rowing Federation, is the main organization that runs the sport of rowing around the world. It used to be called FISA (which stands for Fédération internationale des sociétés d'aviron in French). Its current president is Jean-Christophe Rolland. He took over from Denis Oswald in July 2014.

World Rowing organizes many big competitions. These include the World Rowing Cup and the World Rowing Championships. They make sure all rowing events follow fair rules.

History of World Rowing

How World Rowing Started

World Rowing was created on June 25, 1892, in Turin, Italy. Representatives from countries like France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy came together. Rowing was becoming very popular, and they needed clear rules. These rules covered things like how long races should be and what boats could be used.

Back then, people often bet on rowing races. Sometimes, rowers or coaches were involved in betting. This could lead to unfair races. World Rowing was formed to make sure the sport was fair and honest. They wanted to make sure only amateur athletes competed, meaning people who did not get paid to row.

First Competitions

The first big competition organized by World Rowing was the European Rowing Championships. It happened in 1893 in Orta, Italy. Only 10 teams entered, and they competed in 3 events. There were no professional rowers. By 1925, the European Championships had grown a lot. The event in Prague had 24 teams in 10 different races.

In 1922, World Rowing set up its main office in Lausanne, Switzerland.

World Rowing and the Olympics

World Rowing was the very first international sports group to join the Olympic movement. Rowing has been part of the Olympic Games since the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. (Though the rowing events in 1896 were canceled because of strong winds!)

Each country that rows has its own rowing group. These groups are part of the World Rowing Congress. There are currently 157 such groups. They help decide what World Rowing does.

German Teams in Rowing

In 1955, World Rowing decided that only one united German team could compete in international rowing championships. This meant that East and West Germany had to hold special races to pick their best rowers for each boat.

Over time, the relationship between East and West Germany changed. East Germany asked World Rowing seven times to be recognized as its own country for sports. In 1965, the International Olympic Committee decided that East Germany could have its own team at future Olympic Games.

Later that year, World Rowing also agreed to let East Germany compete separately. At the same meeting, they decided not to play national anthems or raise flags during medal ceremonies. This was to keep the focus on the sport itself. These changes started in 1966.

Recent Decisions

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, World Rowing stopped athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus from competing. A year later, they started looking into how these athletes might be allowed to compete again.

Presidents of World Rowing

World Rowing is led by a president. Here are the presidents since 1924:

• 1924–1926 Eugène Baud, Switzerland
• 1926–1949 Rico Fioroni, Switzerland
• 1949–1958 Gaston Mullegg, Switzerland
• 1958–1989 Thomas Keller, Switzerland
• 1989–2014 Denis Oswald, Switzerland
• 2014–present Jean-Christophe Rolland, France

World Rowing Members

As of 2022, World Rowing has 157 member countries. Each country has its own rowing federation that works with World Rowing.

Major Rowing Events

World Rowing organizes many big international rowing events throughout the year.

Rowing at the Olympics

World Rowing has been in charge of the rowing events at the Olympic Games since 1896. They also manage how rowers qualify to compete in the Games.

Rowing at the Paralympics

World Rowing has also been in charge of rowing events at the Paralympic Games since 2008. This started with the Beijing Paralympic Games. They also handle the qualification process for these athletes.

World Rowing Cup

The World Rowing Cup started in 1997. It includes three regattas (rowing competitions) held in late spring and early summer each year.

World Rowing Championships

This is a big, week-long competition held every year. In years when the Olympics happen, only boat classes that are not part of the Olympics race at the World Championships.

World Rowing Under 19 Championships

These championships have been running since 1967. They are for rowers who are 18 years old or younger by the end of the year. In Olympic years, this event takes place at the same time as the main World Rowing Championships. Since 2021, it's called 'Under 19' instead of 'Junior'.

World Rowing Under 23 Championships

First held in 1976, this competition is for rowers who are too old for the Under 19 Championships but will not turn 23 by the end of the year. It was first called the Nations Cup. In 2005, its name became the World Rowing U23 Championships.

World Rowing Coastal Championships

These championships started in 2006. Races are held over 4 km and 6 km courses using special boats designed for coastal waters. These races can even start and finish on a beach!

World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals

This exciting event first took place in 2019 in Shenzhen, China. Races begin on a beach. The athlete runs to their boat, then rows a 250-meter zigzag course. They turn around and row straight back to the beach. Once they reach the beach, they leave their boat and run to hit a buzzer on the ground.

Recent events:

• 2019 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals - Shenzhen, China
• 2021 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals - Oeiras, Portugal
• 2022 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals - Pembrokeshire, Great Britain
• 2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals - Barletta, Italy

World Rowing Indoor Championships

World Rowing also organizes indoor rowing competitions. These are done on special machines called indoor rowers or ergometers. The first World Rowing Indoor Championships were held in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, in 2018.

Recent events:

• 2018 World Rowing Indoor Championship - Alexandria, Virginia, USA
• 2019 World Rowing Indoor Championship - Long Beach, California, USA
• 2020 World Rowing Indoor Championship - Paris, France
• 2021 World Rowing Virtual Indoor Championship - held online
• 2022 World Rowing Virtual Indoor Championship - held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• 2023 World Rowing Indoor Championship - Mississauga, Toronto, Canada
• 2023 World Rowing Indoor Championship - Prague, Czech Republic

World Rowing Masters Regatta

This event has been held since 1973. It's for rowers who are 27 years old or older. Men and women compete in different age groups, from "A" (27 to 35) to "K" (85 and older). It's the biggest annual international rowing event. In 2013, about 3,500 rowers competed in 440 races over four days. There are also races for mixed crews, where half the team is men and half is women.

Recent locations:

• 2010: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
• 2011: Poznan, Poland
• 2012: Duisburg, Germany
• 2013: Varese, Italy
• 2014: Ballarat, Australia
• 2015: Hazewinkel, Belgium
• 2016: Copenhagen, Denmark
• 2017: Bled, Slovenia
• 2018: Sarasota, Florida, USA
• 2019: Lake Valence, Hungary
• 2020: Virtual competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• 2021: Linz-Ottensheim, Austria
• 2022: Libourne, France
• 2023: Pretoria, South Africa
• 2024: Brandenburg, Germany

World Rowing Sprints

This was a new idea in 2002 to bring rowing races into city centers. The first (and only) event took place on the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, London. Teams from Great Britain, the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands competed in 500-meter races. Famous rowers like Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell took part.

Each team had 13 rowers (5 women, 7 men, and a coxswain). Races included Women's Single Sculls, Men's Single Sculls, and team events. Great Britain won and became the Mercedes-Benz Sprints Champions.

See also

In Spanish: Federación Internacional de Sociedades de Remo para niños

• Thomas Keller Medal, an award given each year by World Rowing to a rower who has had an amazing international career.