Elitism is one of the most prevalent issues in rowing today. To many, it is synonymous with the sport which is dominated by ultra-rich private schools where success is unattainable without tens of thousands in budget every year. Elitism poses an issue for rowing both in terms of popularity and competitiveness for the future.
What is elitism and how did come about in rowing?
Rowing first came to England in 1715 and the expensive cost meant it naturally became a sport of the wealthy. This positioned rowing as a rich man’s sport which created exclusive clubs that only those with money could get into.
Following this, the first rowing club was founded at Westminster School in 1830. More large private schools followed suit and, as they became competitive with one another, the sport began the cycle of exclusivity.
Rowing’s status in the eyes of the public is confirmed yearly by major events such as the Boat Race and Henley which appear posh and exclusive to most. Steve Redgrave acknowledged rowing’s perception as a “very elitist, very white sport”, something he commited to working to change.
Another factor in this image is the Boat Race. This annual spectacle is by far the most watched rowing race but the two universities are constantly drowning in accusations of elitism and private school dominance. Whether true or not, it is hard to shake that belief when the main competitive event between the two institution is in rowing, one of the most expensive sports around.
One of the recent controversies was in the 2012 Boat Race where Trenton Oldfield swam between the boats, ultimately leading to a stoppage and Oxford losing an oar. Oldfield claimed the protest was against the elitism within rowing.
Even looking beyond the Boat Race, Henley is the next major event to the rowing world, with dress codes stricter than Royal Ascot.
Mixed with a lack of media coverage – in part due to a lack of accessibility, events lacking excitement and limited existing popularity – rowing’s elitist image is only compounded.
Why is elitism an issue?
For the growth of the sport, elitism is a major problem. It is unsurprising that rowing is unknown and unpopular when available in so few schools and areas. People do not see the sport as an option for them because it is so widely viewed as only for the wealthy or those in the south. Likewise, rowing is a relatively niche sport with many having never seen or heard of it.
Elitism is not only an issue for the continual growth and expansion of the sport but in the maintenance of its existing member base. It represents a huge hurdle which the world of rowing has to overcome to expand and push forward against.
How can elitism be fixed?
The first step to solve the problem is to admit there is a problem and realise the extent of the divide within rowing culture.
Next, by promoting other routes to the top of rowing, besides the famous public schools such as Eton and Westminster, we can show people that the sport is open to all. Mo Sbihi and Steve Redgrave both came from comprehensive schools and rose to the national squad and shared success with six golds between them. Other examples of these routes are Fulham Reach Boat club, which won Community Club of the Year for its efforts in promoting rowing for all especially for those who are most in need because of financial hardship or social circumstance.
Similarly, British Rowing is working to address issues by founding charities such as Love Rowing in 2019 which aims to create accessible and inclusive rowing programmes for underrepresented communities.
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