All rowers share in an athletic tradition of excellence, challenge, sportsmanship, and competition. The rich history behind crew is constantly changing with the induction of many new collegiate programs each year. A race in 1852 between Harvard and Yale makes rowing the oldest intercollegiate event in America.

Since that day, The United States Rowing Association-USRowing has acquired more than 30,000 rowers across the country as members. The popularity of rowing has increased the diversity of the association's members and of the organization itself.

Established in 1872, USRowing is the oldest national governing body for an amateur sport in the United States.

Collegiate rowers achieve the highest awards for academic performance and graduation rates.

In 1877, women were rowing at Wellesley College but rowing at that time was an intramural sport.

In 1972, the International Olympic Committee added women's rowing to the 1976 Olympic Games.

Three national championship regattas are conducted each year by USRowing: The National Championships for the nation's top level athletes, the American Rowing Championships for club rowers and the Masters National Championships for rowers age 27-80.

United States Rowing is second only to track and field in the number of gold medals won in the Olympic Games.

The majority of women rowers learn to row in college - most have never rowed before the collegiate level.