Overview

A total of 502 rowers will compete in 14 different events during the Paris Games. All races will ride down a 2,000-meter course. 12 of these events are open weight, which means that athletes of any size can compete; however, two races will feature men and women in the lightweight double sculls, in which men must weigh less than 160 pounds and women must be under 130 pounds. 

Each event includes a round of heats, with the top two or three advancing to the next round and remaining boats moving onto the repechage (loosely translated from French to mean "second chance"), where they can earn their way to the next round.

Rowing is leading the way in gender equality at the Olympic Games, where once again, the program set by World Rowing includes an equal number of events for men and women. Since the inclusion of women’s rowing at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and through to the 2016 Rio Olympics, there had been eight men’s events to the women’s six. In Tokyo, rowing finally reached parity, which will continue in Paris.

When to watch rowing during the 2024 Paris Olympics

The full program will run for eight days, starting on Saturday, July 27 and will conclude on Saturday, August 3.

Venue

The Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium will host rowing and will also serve as the hub for the canoe/kayak Olympic competitions. Opened in 2019, the Nautical Stadium was the first new Olympic facility to be completed in preparation for Paris 2024.

A rendering of the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, home to canoeing and rowing during the Paris Olympics.

Paris 2024

In Tokyo, the U.S. did not win a rowing medal for the first time at an Olympics to which it sent rowers, so Paris will serve as a major redemption opportunity.

Momentum seems to be on the nation's side, however. At last September’s world championships, the U.S. won four medals in events that are on the Olympic program.

The U.S.' top opportunities to medal will likely come in the U.S. women's double sculls, men's four and women's eight boats, featuring strong rowers such as Oliver Bub, William Bender and Charlotte Buck.

With a 42-athlete roster, this slate will be the largest U.S. rowing Olympic roster since having 44 athletes at the 2012 London Games.

Meghan Musnicki is the oldest member of the team at 41 years old and is the sole athlete with an Olympic gold medal (in the eight in 2012 and 2016).

Musnicki is set to break the record of oldest U.S. Olympic female rower held by Lisa Schlenker, who competed at the 2004 Athens Games at age 39. Bender, 22, is the team's youngest member.