A Year In Review - Indoor rowing

It was another big year for indoor rowing with home exercise remaining important as Covid-19 caused various forms of lockdowns around the world. The big event of the year, the 2021 World Rowing Indoor Championships went virtual. This turned out to be the trend for the year as many national indoor championships also went virtual. But the biggest news of the year came in March when the blue ribband distance, the 2000m, was reset.

World Rowing Indoor Championship memorable moments

• Being played out virtually around the world, we got a sneak peek into bedrooms, living rooms and gyms numerous countries.
• Isaiah Harrison (USA) and Gabriel Obholzer (GBR) raced each other over 2000m. Earlier in the year Obholzer had bettered one of Harrison’s world records. At the World Champs, Harrison, 17, got revenge and finished ahead of Obholzer in a time of 5:52.5.
• Norway’s Jan Otto Kristiansen, in the 80-89 age category set a new world record for 500m by recording 1:37.3.
• In the 75-79 age category George Petelin broke his own record for 2000m by a knocking off a huge four seconds. He set the new time at 7:11.7.
• In the under-19 women’s 500m only 0.5 seconds separated Sara Mohamed El Marzouky of Egypt and Meg Knight of Great Britain at the finish – 1:30.2 and 1:30.7.
• The World Champion crown for the open men’s 2000m went to Ward Lemmelijn of Belgium in a time of 5:42.2. For the women Kirsten Kline of the United States overtook Dutch rower Sophie Souwer just before the finish line with a time of 6:45.8.

Must watch

Highlights of the 2021 World Rowing Indoor Championships 2021 World Rowing Indoor Championships – Highlights – YouTube

Setting the records

In 2020, the first year of the global pandemic, an incredible 131 new world records were set. This record-setting trend continued into 2021. One impressive record was Great Britain’s Gabriel Obholser who broke the 6000m record of Isaiah Harrison. The American, Harrison had owned ever record in his age from – from 500m through to the marathon distance.

The fastest woman in the world

The 25^th of March became a monumental day when United States national team rower Brooke Mooney set a new world record over 2000m to become the fastest woman in the world. Mooney’s 6:21.1 was 1.7 seconds faster than the previous record which had been held by Olena Buryak of Ukraine since 2019.

Special mention

To all of the 2000m records that got broken in 2021
–  Martin Luirink, the Netherlands, men’s lightweight 60-64 year old age group – 6:41.17
– Gustave Schoch, Canada, men’s 65-69 year old age group – 6:33.5
– Gerard Le Flohic, France, men’s lightweight 65-69 year old age group – 6:46.3
– George Petelin, Australia, men’s 75-79 year old age group – 7:07.9
– Mies Bernelot Moens, Netherlands, women’s 75-79 year old age group – 8:15.5
– Mike Hurley, Great Britain, men’s 85-89 year old age group – 7:54.2
– Alida Kingswood, Canada, women’s 85-89 year old age group – 10:11.8
– Vince Home, Australia, men’s 95-99 year old age group – 10:49.7

Cool Quote

“I knew how I wanted to start the piece. What happened after that took me by surprise. I don’t know what came over me. I started seeing faster projected finish times and just went for it.” – World Record holder Brooke Mooney.

Fun Fact

After returning to New Zealand from the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, the men’s eight had to spend 14 days in a hotel room in managed isolation. One member of the eight, Shaun Kirkham clocked up 380km on the indoor rower in 13 days. His crew went on to win gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games.