Oarsmen

Oarsmen are rowers who propel a boat by applying oars to the water. They sit in a rowing shell and coordinate with teammates to move the boat efficiently. The term is gendered; modern usage often uses rowers or oarspersons, though oarsman appears in historical contexts or for male rowers.

In sweep rowing each oarsman handles one oar; in sculling each rower uses two. Oars attach to oarlocks on riggers; rowers use sliding seats and drive power from the legs, transfer through the core, and finish with the arms. Timing is essential, and the stroke seat at the stern sets the rhythm, while the bow seat helps balance. Many boats also include a coxswain who steers and coordinates the crew.

Common configurations include eight (eight rowers plus a coxswain), four (with or without a cox), pair, double, and single scull. In an eight, rowers are arranged from bow to stern, with the stroke seat at the stern.

Oarsmen train to develop endurance, strength, technique, and synchronization. Regattas feature heats and finals, with major events such as the World Rowing Championships, the Olympic Games, and long-standing races like Henley Royal Regatta and the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge.

History of the sport traces to 18th- and 19th-century Britain, where clubs organized competitions and standardized boat classes. Rowing became an Olympic discipline in 1900, and women’s participation expanded in the late 20th century.