This is the fourth time Indians have been qualified in the Olympics for the sport of rowing. A very popular sport abroad, especially in colleges, rowing is slowly steering in as another sport option in India. So far the forerunners in rowing in the Olympics are Germany and USA. 

Officially introduced in the Olympics in 1896, the first rowing tournament took place in 1900. This year, watch out for Swarn Singh Virk, Manjeet Singh and Sandeep Kumar at the London Olympics as they put India on the world rowing map.

The closest we've ever come to rowing is at the gym with the new rowing machines. A full body workout, rowing by itself satisfies your body's needs across all planes. Not only does this make rowing a fantastic compound exercise, it also means that rowing is a great test of physical endurance and strength. The rowing machine is a good alternative to cardio on the treadmill or cross trainer.

For rowing you need to be fit and keep your rowing stamina in check. If you want to row at the Olympics or at any sports tournament, you will need extensive training. There are different methods and training programs, but the process is at least one year long. You will learn the different techniques to row and the right way of using your muscles.

Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream…

Well it may be romantic to gently row your boat, but we are talking about quick rapid motion of rowing to the finish line. Rowing involves almost all the muscles in the body – arms, legs, abdomen, back and the butt. It builds muscles and improves cardiovascular endurance. It strengthens your back and enhances flexibility.

An excellent feature of rowing is that it has low impact at the joints, hence it’s a great sport for recovery from sport injuries. However, remember that no matter how good the sport, reckless behaviour will always welcome joint injuries. Rowing also teaches teamwork and is a great stress buster.

We wish Swarn Singh Virk, Manjeet Singh and Sandeep Kumar all the best for the Olympics!

*Image courtesy Reuters