23 Jan 2025
Trends in Indoor Rowing records
(Disclaimer – this article is about World Records set on a Concept2 machine only).
Perhaps more the any other sport, the list of record-setting possibilities on the Indoor rower is immense.
Indoor Rowing machine makers Concept2, maintains, monitors and verifies the records. They have been doing this since Indoor Rowing racing began and as the Indoor Rowing community has grown Concept2 has added more record categories.
Over the 29-plus years that records have been recorded, the list of records has expanded to include a range of distances, age categories, two weight classes, four set times, ultra distance records as well as para-rowing (adaptive) records and records on the RowErg with slides and the Dynamic RowErg.
Total it up and there’s well over 1000 world records.
The 2000m remains the gold medal standard for Indoor Rowing records. This is in line with the distance raced for on-water international rowing competitions. It is therefore probably the hardest record to break. The men’s record is currently held by Josh Dunkley-Smith from Australia. He set the record of 5:35.8 in 2018 breaking a record that had been set ten years prior by Rob Waddell of New Zealand who also held the previous record set in 1999.
Brooke Mooney of the United States set the women’s 2000m record in 2021. Her time of 6:21.1 broke the previous record set in 2017 by Olena Buryak of Ukraine. Mooney’s record shaved off a substantial 1.5 seconds from Buryak’s time indicating that there’s potential for improvement. But the now four-year-old record still remains untouched.
Buryak became one of first to be known and recognised internationally for her Indoor Rowing skills. Her 2000m race at the 2020 World Rowing Indoor Championships has received well over 100,000 views and many indoor rowers have been inspired by her. Buryak is now retired but she still holds four indoor rowing records including the 30–39-year-old record for 2000m set in 2019 and the 6000m record for 19-29 year olds set in 2016.
More recently some of the shorter distances have attracted growing interest and prestige. YouTube clips show record breaking attempts coming from non-rowing strongmen and bodybuilders. The use of rowing machines in CrossFit workouts has also increased awareness of setting indoor rowing records.
With very little rowing background, former rugby player, now strength training expert James Hall (UK / Australia) has targeted records and currently holds the 1000m record. Hall uses a scientific approach to setting records calling on his knowledge of training, physiology and pain tolerance to accomplish his goals.
Indoor Rowing records set by non-rowers shows the growth of the indoor rower as a sport in itself. Elizabeth Gilmore of the United States currently holds an incredible ten records. Gilmore uses Indoor Rowing as low-impact cross-training for her running. She stands out in the range of distances her records have been st in. Usually Indoor rowers excel at a set distance. For Gilmore, her records range from one minute to marathon distance.
Like Gilmore, American Bill Nurge does not come from a rowing background, but has embraced indoor rowing for its fitness properties. On turning 60, Nurge set indoor rowing record-breaking goals and achieves them. He currently holds the 5000m, 6000m and 10000m for his age group.
There are plenty of records also set by on-water rowers. Georgie Rowe is a two-time Olympic rower for Australia and took up rowing after successfully competing as an Indoor rower. Along with her on-water pursuits, Rowe has maintained her indoor rowing goals. She currently holds five records gained over the space of four years and, like Gilmore, has been successful at a range of times and distances including 4 minutes and the marathon.
For the 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships, presented by Concept 2, competitors must race on a Concept2 static ergometer (PM3 or later). This means results can be counted for World Records.
For more information: https://worldrowing.com/event/2025-world-rowing-indoor-championships-presented-by-concept-2/
How to get an Indoor Rowing record: https://worldrowing.com/2024/01/29/how-to-get-an-indoor-rowing-record-2/
World Records: https://www.concept2.com/records
2020 World Rowing Indoor Championships, 2000m Women: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-Uo_DrbuQ0