Flat Water Maestro's: The 10 Greatest Olympic Rowers
The World’s Greatest Olympic Rowers: Including Olympic Records and Achievements
The greatest Olympic rowers maintain near-superhuman movement consistency while displaying incredible arm, back and abdominal strength.
But who are they? Read on to find out!
Sir Steven Geoffrey Redgrave – one of the greatest rowers in the world
Like discus throwing, rowing is another one of the original modern Olympic sports, joining the lineup right from the start of the modern Games in 1896.
In fact, the founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin, was a rower, which is perhaps why the sport has remained such an enormous part of Olympic culture to this day.
Over the years, we have seen some incredible Olympic rowers find glory in this impressive water-based sport.
Here’s our pick of the 10 greatest Olympic rowers in the world.
1. Elisabeta Lipă
She’s the most awarded rower of all-time
She’s the first female rower to compete in six Olympic Games
Lipă is an eight-time Olympic medalist (five gold, two silver and one bronze)
Right at the top of the list, we have Elisabeta Lipă, a Romanian rower who is widely regarded as the best and most decorated Olympic rower in the world.
She has more Olympic medals than any other rower in history and is known for her mould-breaking approach to both single- and double-scull rowing.
Lipă paves the way as the first member of the Golden Generation, a group of four Romanian female rowers who have 25 gold Olympic medals between them.
After retiring from her historic rowing career, Lipă now serves in the Romanian public offices as a Minister of Youth and Sport.
2. Sir Steven Geoffrey Redgrave
He’s a six-time Olympic medalist (five gold and one bronze)
He’s been presented with the gold Olympic pin
Redgrave was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II
Sir Steven Geoffery Redgrave is the first and only British rower to win five consecutive Olympic gold medals – and rowing is one of the most popular sports in the UK.
He was also the first rower on this list to have been knighted for his efforts, followed by Sir Matthew Pinsent.
Sir Redgrave’s rowing career was so successful between 1984 and 2000 that he was even awarded the gold Olympic pin for his efforts.
This is an honour reserved for only the best Olympic athletes. After winning his fifth gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, he retired back home in Britain.
3. Georgeta Damian
She’s a five-time gold Olympic medalist
Damian is a three-time World Rowing Championships winner
She’s one of just three rowers to win five Olympic gold medals
Joining Lipă and Redgrave as one of only three rowers ever to win five Olympic gold medals is the phenomenal Georgeta Damian.
She hails from Romania and forms part of the Golden Generation group, of which Lipă is also a member.
In addition to her collection of Olympic golds, Damian boasts three first-place wins at the World Rowing Championships, making her one of the most successful and powerful rowers in history.
4. Hamish Bond
The New Zealander is an eight-time World Champion
He's a two-time Olympic medalist
Bond is also an Oceania road cycling gold medalist
His name is Bond, Hamish Bond, and he’s one of the best rowers in the world.
This Kiwi rower and Olympic-level cyclist has won the World Rowing Championships an astonishing eight times and was also dubbed “Male Athlete of the Year” in 2014 by Men’s Health magazine.
Showing excellent strength in both rowing and road cycling capacities, Bond is one of the few Olympic rowers to have received gold medals in more than one athletic discipline.
5. Doina Ignat
She’s a six-time Olympic medalist (four gold, one silver and one bronze)
She’s a two-time European Rowing Champion
Ignat is the third member of the Golden Generation group
Romanian rower Doina Ignat is also a member of the Golden Generation. With four gold Olympic wins between 1992 and 2004, Ignat’s trajectory of success was hard-fought and deservedly won.
She also won two European Championship rowing competitions in year-on-year succession.
6. Jack Beresford
He’s a five-time Olympic medalist (three gold and two silver) in consecutive Games
Beresford is considered the best male rower in history, before Sir Redgrave
Nicknamed the “Old Fox”
Along with Sir Redgrave, British rower Jack Beresford is considered one of the best male oarsmen to have ever lived.
Born into an Olympic rowing family in 1899, Beresford was destined for greatness, winning multiple gold and silver medals at consecutive Olympic Games, as well as various other accolades along the way.
Beresford was described as “a vicious oarsman”, often giving an unnerving grin to his competitors, who almost always knew they were about to be defeated.
7. Kathrin Boron
She’s a 13-time World Rowing Championship medalist (eight gold and five silver)
Boron is a five-time Olympic medalist (four gold and one bronze)
She’s been awarded the Thomas Keller Medal for her rowing achievements
One of Germany’s most famous and successful female rowers, Kathrin Boron has had a phenomenal career.
Winning gold and silver medals at 13 separate World Rowing Championships is this exceptional rower’s claim to fame, as are her four Olympic medals.
In 2009, Boron was awarded the honourable Thomas Keller Medal by FISA for an outstanding international career in the sport of rowing.
8. Sir Matthew Pinsent
He’s a four-time Olympic gold medalist
Pinsent is a 14-time Henley Royal Regatta Champion
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II
Another knighted British rower, Sir Matthew Pinsent is one of Britain’s finest and most decorated Olympic-level oarsmen.
Winning four Olympic gold medals and a staggering 14 Henley Royal Regatta Championship races, Sir Pinsent is certainly an iconic figure in the global rowing scene.
After retiring in 2004, Pinsant was knighted and went on to become a sports broadcaster for the BBC.
9. Viorica Susanu
She’s an 11-time World Rowing Championship medalist (five gold, three silver and three bronze)
She’s won five Olympic medals (four gold and one bronze)
Susanu is a two-time European Champion
The fourth and final member of the Golden Generation, this Romanian Olympic gold medalist has her fair share of accolades and decorations to celebrate throughout her career.
In addition to her string of Olympic medals, she went on to win 11 medals at the World Rowing Championships, some of which, including the golds, were consecutive.
Viorica Susanu has paired with her best friend and fellow Olympic rower, Georgeta Damian, on several occasions. After her full and wildly successful career, Susanu is now retired and living in Romania.
10. Eric Murray
He’s an eight-time World Champion
Murray is a two-time Olympic gold medalist
He was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal with Hamish Bond
Joining Bond is another male Kiwi rowing legend, Eric Murray. In fact, these two rowers share the Thomas Keller medal, which they took home in 2018 for their impressive nine-year rowing partnership.
Murray competed professionally for several years before really blossoming, but when he did, the accolades didn’t stop coming.
Winning the World Rowing Championships eight times and earning two Olympic gold medals are two examples of his incredible achievements.
Murray has also been applauded for his social media influence, using his platform to raise international interest and enhance awareness around this brilliant sport. He’s possibly the world’s first rowing influencer!
These rowing champions are the greatest of our time. Who is your favourite Olympic rower? Tell us in the comments!
