Before dawn breaks at Henley Island in St. Catharines, rowers are already in the water. The men's lightweight eight from the St. Catharines Rowing Club start their day with drills meant to sharpen their start. But the race they prepare for may not exist in 2028. The Olympics plans to drop lightweight rowing entirely in favor of a new event that includes a short ocean row and a run in the sand. This shift is causing anxiety among rowers who have dedicated their careers to the sport.
Sawyer Dalton stands with his teammates after a training session. “Guys that have rowed lightweight their whole lives, every guy here, is seeing their sport completely eliminated from the world of rowing,” he said. The International Olympic Committee made the move to cut lightweight rowing in favor of beach sprints, a decision that has sparked concern among athletes. Rowing Canada has followed suit with national-level restrictions, further eroding opportunities for lightweight rowers.
Youth Restrictions Introduced
Rowing Canada will bar under-19 rowers from lightweight competition starting in 2028. The national body says it's a health and safety measure, aiming to protect young athletes from the risks associated with maintaining a strict weight limit. Brock University and the University of Toronto have lobbied for exemptions to this rule, arguing that it could disqualify half of all current university rowers. Despite their efforts, no exemptions have been granted, leaving many athletes uncertain about their future in the sport.
Joseph Wright, a multi-sport athlete known for his contributions to rowing and other sports, helped introduce lightweight rowing in the 1900s. The category gave smaller athletes a fair shot in a sport where size often determines success. Today, it is being phased out. Owen Kudreikis, who rowed for Canada and the University of Pennsylvania, says it was easier to compete as a lightweight. “For any kid, it’s demotivating if you’re competing against a guy that’s a lot bigger and losing,” he said. Kudreikis has been rowing since high school and understands the challenges faced by smaller athletes.
Athletes Shift to Open Class
Kudreikis is trying to add 20 pounds to compete in the open class at Cambridge, where he will pursue a master’s degree in land economics in the fall. Eating for him is now a necessity, not a pleasure. The shift in focus from enjoying meals to maintaining a specific weight can be mentally and physically taxing. Rowers say concerns about athletes making weight in unhealthy ways are exaggerated. Riley Watson, Canadian university male athlete of the year, says no evidence has been provided to support the claim that lightweight rowing is harmful to young athletes.
Rowing Canada claims open-weight events remain open to all. However, the term “heavyweight” has stuck, suggesting a different reality for athletes who must compete against larger opponents. Rowers argue it is harder to compete when bigger athletes have a natural edge. “The average person is genetically disadvantaged in most sports,” Kudreikis said. “For me, it was good to have that category where I was competitive pretty early on.” This perspective highlights the importance of weight classes in ensuring fair competition, a principle that has guided sports like wrestling and boxing for decades.
Future of Lightweight Rowing Uncertain
The lightweight class was introduced to provide an opportunity for smaller athletes to compete on an equal footing. However, with the Olympics and national organizations reducing support, the future of lightweight rowing is in jeopardy. Athletes like Dalton and Kudreikis are not only concerned about their own careers but also about the legacy of the sport. The Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, which has a long history of supporting lightweight rowing, is also facing challenges in maintaining a full competition slate, underscoring the broader impact of these changes on amateur rowing in Canada.