During the 17th century, rowing as a sport is very popular in Europe and throughout the 19th century, fever had caught up rowing with the Americans. It has been reported that in the 19th century to compete with professional rowing and huge demonstrations have been placed on bets.

Three nations rowing had dominated for most part of the Olympic Games.

The United States of America has decided to good discipline rowing until the beginning of the Olympic Games 1960 in Rome.

Russia (formerly known as the Soviet Union) is out of the shadow of the United States and rowing have dominated in the 1970's. During the RDA has been the dominant force in rowing in 1980.

About rowing, one can not miss the name of the great rowing, Steven Redgrave, England, won five successive gold medals and a bronze medal in five Olympic Games.

Steven Redgrave's gold spree began to win the 1984 1988 1992 1996 Atlanta Olympics and fifth gold medal came at the age of 38, for the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 as a member of the British coxless fours team.

Over the years, a number of changes in the Olympic rowing competition. Since the Barcelona Olympic Games 1996, men and couples coxed fours coxed stopped and were replaced by the lighter and lightweight double rowing coxless fours.

Women rowing events, the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976 were also slightly changed. The women's coxless pair, and the event was halted by the slight double rowing.

The weight limit values for the events have also been slightly modified.

For women, it was decided that only a woman should not contain more than 59 kg, and the average weight of the crew must not exceed 57 kg.

For men, the weight limits was 72.5 kg, with an average weight of the crew must not exceed 70 kg.