Rowing at the Games
Rowing has been included in the programme for every modern Olympic Games, but rough seas caused the event to be cancelled at Athens 1896.
Women's races were introduced at the Montreal 1976 Games and the first Lightweight events were staged at Atlanta 1996.
There are two types of rowing at the Olympic Games: Sweep Rowing and Sculling.
Sweep Rowers use a single oar. They compete in crews of two, four or eight - the eight is steered by a 'cox', who also gives the crew instructions.
Scullers have an oar in each hand and so can compete alone in a single as well as in doubles and quadruple sculls.
There are events for both Heavyweight and Lightweight Rowers and all races take place in six lanes over a 2000m still water course, either man-made (as is Dorney Lake) or on a natural lake.
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