Olympic Games

Rowing is one of Britain’s most successful Olympic sports.

In the history of the Olympic Games, up to and including Tokyo 2020, the GB Rowing Team has won a total of 70 medals

Medals
31  medals
25 medals
14 medals
Medals:
31  medals
Medals:
25 medals
Medals:
14 medals
Rowing is the only GB sport to have won a gold at every Games from 1984 to 2016.

British Firsts

  • 1st rowing medal in the sport’s debut at the 1900 Games.
  • 1st lightweight gold medal in Beijing 2008.
  • 1st women’s gold medal at London 2012.

Great Britain’s most decorated rowers

steve_redgrave.jpgSir Steve Redgrave – GB’s most decorated Olympic rower with five gold medals and a bronze medal from five successive Olympic Games.
KatherineGrainger.jpgKatherine Grainger – GB’s most decorated female rower with a gold and three silvers from four successive Games.
Sir Matthew Pinsent with his 4 Olympic Gold Medals. 1992.Barcelona, 1996. Atlanta. 2000.Sydney and 2004 AthensSir Matthew Pinsent, Redgrave’s crew-mate at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Games, won four golds in four successive Games from 1992 to 2004.
steve_redgrave.jpg
Sir Steve Redgrave – GB’s most decorated Olympic rower with five gold medals and a bronze medal from five successive Olympic Games.
KatherineGrainger.jpg
Katherine Grainger – GB’s most decorated female rower with a gold and three silvers from four successive Games.
Sir Matthew Pinsent with his 4 Olympic Gold Medals. 1992.Barcelona, 1996. Atlanta. 2000.Sydney and 2004 Athens
Sir Matthew Pinsent, Redgrave’s crew-mate at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Games, won four golds in four successive Games from 1992 to 2004.

GB Rowing Team Medals at Olympic Games

Olympic regatta Total
2020 (Tokyo) M4x M8+ 2
2016 (Rio) W2-
M4-
M8+
W2x
W8+
5
2012 (London) W2-
W2x
M4-
LW2x
LM2x
LM4-
M1x
 M2-
M8+
9
2008 (Beijing) M4-
LM2x
M8+
W4x
M2x
W2x)
6
2004 (Athens) M4- W4x
W2-
W2x 4
2000 (Sydney) M4-
M8+
W4x 3
1996 (Atlanta) M2- M4- 2
1992 (Barcelona) M2-
M2+
2
1988 (Seoul) M2- M2+ 2
1984 (L.A.) M4+ 1
1980 (Moscow) M8+ M2-
M4-
3
1976 (Montreal) M2x
M8+
2
1972 (Munich) 0
1968 (Mexico City) 0
1964 (Tokyo) M4- 1
1960 (Rome) 0
1956 (Melbourne) 0
1952 (Helsinki) 0
1948 (London) M2-
M2x
M8+ 3
1936 (Berlin) M2x M4- 2
1932 (L.A.) M2-
M4-
2
1928 (Amsterdam) M4- M2-
M8+
M1x 4
1924 (Paris)  M1X
M4-
2
1920 (Antwerp) M1x
M8+
2
1912 (Stockholm) M1x
M8+
M8+
M4+
4
1908 (London) M1x
M2-
M4-
M8+
M1x
M2-
 M4-
M8+ 8
1904 (St Louis) GB Rowing Team did not compete
1900 (Paris) M1x 1
Olympic regatta:
2020 (Tokyo)
:
--
:
M4x
:
M8+
Total:
2
Olympic regatta:
2016 (Rio)
:
W2-
M4-
M8+
:
W2x
W8+
:
--
Total:
5
Olympic regatta:
2012 (London)
:
W2-
W2x
M4-
LW2x
:
LM2x
LM4-
:
M1x
 M2-
M8+
Total:
9
Olympic regatta:
2008 (Beijing)
:
M4-
LM2x
:
M8+
W4x
:
M2x
W2x)
Total:
6
Olympic regatta:
2004 (Athens)
:
M4-
:
W4x
W2-
:
W2x
Total:
4
Olympic regatta:
2000 (Sydney)
:
M4-
M8+
:
W4x
:
--
Total:
3
Olympic regatta:
1996 (Atlanta)
:
M2-
:
--
:
M4-
Total:
2
Olympic regatta:
1992 (Barcelona)
:
M2-
M2+
:
--
:
--
Total:
2
Olympic regatta:
1988 (Seoul)
:
M2-
:
--
:
M2+
Total:
2
Olympic regatta:
1984 (L.A.)
:
M4+
:
--
:
--
Total:
1
Olympic regatta:
1980 (Moscow)
:
--
:
M8+
:
M2-
M4-
Total:
3
Olympic regatta:
1976 (Montreal)
:
--
:
M2x
M8+
:
--
Total:
2
Olympic regatta:
1972 (Munich)
:
--
:
--
:
--
Total:
0
Olympic regatta:
1968 (Mexico City)
:
--
:
--
:
--
Total:
0
Olympic regatta:
1964 (Tokyo)
:
--
:
M4-
:
--
Total:
1
Olympic regatta:
1960 (Rome)
:
--
:
--
:
--
Total:
0
Olympic regatta:
1956 (Melbourne)
:
--
:
--
:
--
Total:
0
Olympic regatta:
1952 (Helsinki)
:
--
:
--
:
--
Total:
0
Olympic regatta:
1948 (London)
:
M2-
M2x
:
M8+
:
--
Total:
3
Olympic regatta:
1936 (Berlin)
:
M2x
:
M4-
:
--
Total:
2
Olympic regatta:
1932 (L.A.)
:
M2-
M4-
:
--
:
--
Total:
2
Olympic regatta:
1928 (Amsterdam)
:
M4-
:
M2-
M8+
:
M1x
Total:
4
Olympic regatta:
1924 (Paris)
:
 M1X
M4-
:
--
:
--
Total:
2
Olympic regatta:
1920 (Antwerp)
:
--
:
M1x
M8+
:
--
Total:
2
Olympic regatta:
1912 (Stockholm)
:
M1x
M8+
:
M8+
M4+
:
--
Total:
4
Olympic regatta:
1908 (London)
:
M1x
M2-
M4-
M8+
:
M1x
M2-
 M4-
:
M8+
Total:
8
Olympic regatta:
1904 (St Louis)
:
GB Rowing Team did not compete
Olympic regatta:
1900 (Paris)
:
--
:
--
:
M1x
Total:
1

Note 1: In 1924 GB was awarded a bronze medal in the men’s pair. However, this medal is not recognised by the International Olympic Committee because it was awarded by default – there were only three entries to the event and, having raced the heats, the British crew did not turn up for the final.

Note 2: The medal tally for the 1908 Olympics is disputed. However, the IOC recognises GB as winning four gold, three silver and one bronze in this year.

Find out more

Tokyo 2020

Watch the three-part behind-the-scenes documentary The Road to Tokyo.

Rio 2016

 

More in this section

GB Rowing Team at Rio 2016

In total, 56 Olympic and Paralympic rowers competed at Rio 2016; 35 men and 21 women.

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