Sport and timing
Rowing: why races are held over 2,000 metres and how a photo finish decided five thousandths of a second
· 5 min read
In short
- The International Rowing Federation, now World Rowing and formerly FISA, established 2,000 metres as the standard distance for its championship races as early as 1894. It remains the standard distance for most elite flat-water rowing disciplines, although other formats—including youth and masters events, coastal rowing and long-distance head races—use different distances.
- Official rowing races use federation-approved photo-finish systems, starting lights and split-time terminals, much like running events.
- As in other sports, rowing can produce races in which two competitors record the same finishing time and a photo finish must determine the winner.
- Unlike swimming in a pool, rowing takes place outdoors on open water, introducing variables such as wind and current—so the timing equipment must be weather-resistant and able to operate regardless of the conditions.
Rowing is one of those sports in which a finish separated by a few thousandths of a second can be just as decisive as in swimming or athletics—it simply receives less attention.
Why exactly 2,000 metres?
The International Rowing Federation, now World Rowing and formerly known as FISA, established 2,000 metres as the standard distance for its championship races as early as 1894. It remains the standard distance for most elite disciplines, whether the event is a single scull or an eight—although other formats, including youth and masters events, coastal rowing and head races, have their own distances.
A photo finish on the water
Official rowing races use approved timing systems, including electronic starting lights, split-time terminals and a photo finish. Elite events use homologated electronic timing and photo-finish systems. The principle is the same as in other sports: a camera records a narrow strip of the finish line at very high frequency and assembles those strips into an image with a time axis. Learn more in Photo finishes in horse racing.
Five thousandths of a second
As in other sports, rowing can produce races in which two competitors record the same finishing time at the finish line and a photo finish must determine the winner. Such close decisions show that even a sport that appears to be a contest of strength and endurance ultimately comes down to fractions of a second, as discussed in Timing curiosities and errors.
The challenge of an outdoor environment
Unlike swimming in a pool, rowing takes place outdoors on natural or artificial courses—lakes, canals or rivers—where results can be affected by wind and waves in particular. The timing equipment must therefore withstand the weather, just as it must in road running and outdoor cycling.
What to take away
Even at smaller rowing or paddling races, the same principle applies as at other outdoor sporting events: organizers must prepare for bad weather and have a backup timing system. Learn more in Backup timing.
Frequently asked questions
Why are rowing races held over 2,000 metres?
The International Rowing Federation, now World Rowing, established this standard distance as early as 1894 for every discipline except exceptional long-distance events known as head races.
How is a rowing race timed?
Official races use federation-approved photo-finish systems, electronic starting lights and split-time terminals. Elite events use homologated electronic timing and photo-finish systems.
Are close photo finishes common in rowing?
Yes. As in other sports, two rowing competitors can record the same finishing time at the finish line, leaving the photo finish to determine the winner.
How does rowing timekeeping differ from swimming?
Rowing takes place outdoors on lakes, canals or rivers rather than in a pool, so the timing equipment must withstand the weather and cannot rely on touchpads as swimming does.