University Rowing in Argentina

Argentina has a climate ideal for the sport of rowing and despite their distance from the major rowing powers of Europe, North America and Oceania, Argentine rowers have had their share of successes on the international stage. Rowing has long been practised in the major cities, with rowing clubs playing an important role in the sporting and social lives of their communities. Storied clubs like RV Teutonia or the Buenos Aires Rowing Club have built up global renown. In 1928 the country became a member of the World Rowing Federation (FISA) – one year ahead of the United States.

University rowing, however, has not been a part of that tradition. “Universities in Latin America are very different from those in Europe and North America,” explains Alejandro Cucchietti, son of the famed Argentine boat builder Jorge Cucchietti. “In the case of Argentina we have public and private institutions.”

The focus within both levels of university has traditionally been on studies. Sports have been left therefore to the communities outside the school setting.  “In Argentina, as in most Latin American countries,” says Cucchietti, “it is difficult to practise sport because of a lack of coordination between sport and study.”

This separation between athletics and academics extends to all levels of the educational system in many Latin American nations. “Here rowers begin at the age of 12 to 13 years on their own initiative within the community rowing clubs. All of this activity is carried out without coordination with studies.”

A major drop-off in participation happens when students leave high school to attend university. “Many need to work and study,” says Cucchietti, which makes it very difficult to commit long hours to training.

Many rowers moving up the ranks within the sport will choose to stay at home while attending school to make things easier. “Those who can continue living with their parents, who support their children, can continue with their rowing goal of trying to make the national team,” he says.

National funding in the form of grants awarded for performance is another aid to would-be student athletes. “If they can win races with the [national] team,” says Cucchietti, “they receive an economic grant from the Secretary of Sport besides full scholarship to study at some universities.”

Because of the limitations in funding available to those below the international level, however, many end up abandoning the sport to focus on their studies. For those who do stay in the sport, training continues as members of their club.

“Athletes selected to go to the University Games must belong to a club as well as be studying at a university,” Cucchietti says. “The team is made up of athletes from different universities.” Invitations for participation in selection were sent out to the clubs who met a series of requirements. “This was the first event in which Argentina presented a delegation. Never before had we participated in any university rowing event.”

Cucchietti reflected on his own time on the Argentine national team while attending university. “In my personal experience,” he says, “the university always helped me by giving me opportunities to take exams when I was travelling [for training and competition]”

Like many balancing sport and studies before and since, Cucchietti drew motivation from this support and the admiration of more than simply friends and professors. “Outside the academic and athletic ambit,” he recalls, “those around me really felt admiration for me because [rowing] is a sport requiring much sacrifice and in my case my academic career in engineering is also a heavy [field of study].”

World Rowing is featuring university clubs from around the world to find out what makes them unique and what elements have contributed to their success. From student start-ups to Olympian production lines, is there a global definition of success in university rowing? If you think your university should be profiled, please contact us and tell us what sets your team apart:  media@fisa.org