London Preview: Rowing

Olympic Rowers at London Olympics

What/Where/When:  
Rowing, Eton Dorney Rowing Center, July 28-August 4

As I have just a few more sports to research, I’m taking a moment to picture myself along the banks of Lake Dorney.  It’s a mild and sunny August morning. Windsor Castle is behind me, gulls fly overhead, and in front of me is the beautiful synchronization of a coxless four skimming across the water.  Oh, to be in England for Olympic rowing!

What better place is there for Olympic rowing than England and Eton? After all, competitive rowing can be traced back to the 1700?s, where racing took place on the Thames River.  The venue will be at the Eton Downey Rowing Center owned by Eton College, one of England’s oldest and most prestigious boarding schools for boys.  With such history, it’s no surprise, then, that rowing was part of both the 1908 and 1948 Olympics held in London.  While those two Olympics were held at Henley-on-Thames

Rowing is one of the most beautiful sports to watch.  I’ve never known if it’s the synchronization or the swift gliding across the water that pleases me most.  And when I’m watching a favorite compete, I can’t help but yell out “Faster!  Faster!  Go!  Go!  Go!”

I’ve got to pull for the British this year.  They’ve always done well, winning the third amount of gold medals behind East Germany and the United States.  But to win at home?  At historic Eton?  I know that Britain is really, really wanting to win as many rowing medals as possible.  It would make any medal all the sweeter if it was won there in Eton.

If you’re wanting to understand terminology like coxless, sculls, and sweeping, check out this British boat club’s Guide to Rowing.

For medal predictions, who better to turn to than Sir Steven Redgrave?  Here are some of his predictions from London’s Daily Telegraph.

Now I’ll leave you with lyrics from the traditional Eton Boating Song:

Jolly boating weather,

And a hay harvest breeze,

Blade on the feather,

Shade off the trees,

Swing swing together,

With your bodies between your knees,

Swing swing together,

With your bodies between your knees.

Rugby may be more clever,

Harrow may make more row,

But we’ll row for ever,

Steady from stroke to bow,

And nothing in life shall sever

The chain that is round us now,

And nothing in life shall sever

The chain that is round us now.

Faster, Higher, Stronger