11/5/2025
When we protect our athletes, we protect Rowing.
When going from practicing on the erg in the boathouse to your shell on the river, lake, or open water, immense fortitude and focus are needed to glide across the finish line. Whether relying on the aid of a coxswain in a larger boat or your own stroke in a single, rowers alike know the meaning of hard work. With calluses on their hands and sunburnt shoulders, novices to elites are attuned to the rhythmic sound of the oar slicing the water. No crabs, please. When we protect our rowers, we keep this sport safe and healthy for all.
Courage First Athlete Helpline
Use this resource if you are in need of confidential emotional support, crisis intervention, informational athlete-focused resources, and guidance related to concerns about any type of abuse.
The Courage First Athlete Helpline is a no-cost call and text service for anyone in need. +1 888-279-1026
Common Rowing Safeguarding Concerns
Abuse and misconduct can happen in all sports, at every level of play. Rowing has some specific vulnerabilities, such as:
- Rowing environments can potentially involve isolated locations for practice and competition, and adverse water conditions require a high level of physical safeguarding.
- Rowers often specialize early and have intense training loads, which can lead to overuse injuries. Rowers may also experience Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) due to excessive training and weight-related pressures to “stay lean,” which can result in physical injury and harm, as well as normalize body criticism.
- Team environments can be potential havens for peer-on-peer abuse, hazing, and bullying. These behaviors may often be trivialized as “normal” instead of being taken seriously.
What’s the difference between tough coaching & abuse?
The Coach Athlete Relationship Dynamics Diagrams below can be used as a gut check; consider the conduct you experience and observe in your sporting community, and discern whether what is occurring aligns with a caring and supportive coach-athlete relationship. For athletes who have unhealthy relationship dynamics with their coaches, inappropriate behavior can be subtle and difficult to discern. Awareness and prevention of these patterns of power and control help keep everyone safe.
Current Events
Unfortunately, news articles chronicling misconduct in sport and unhealthy coach-athlete dynamics are frequent and widespread. Abuse in sport has been occurring for decades, and the public is now becoming aware of these hidden situations as more and more survivors bravely disclose and report misconduct they have experienced. #WeRideTogether is committed to increasing awareness and continually updating this compiled list of current events on the topic of sexual abuse in sport. Sexual misconduct is happening across all sports, at all levels, internationally.
7/7/2025
Athlete accused of assault is suspended by rowing body
6/25/2025
Rower accused of rape suspended by British Rowing over new allegations
6/6/2025
Women at Leander Club, British rowing's 'medal factory', walked out over personal safety fears
10/18/2026
Youth Sports Families Allege Travel Company Threatened Their Kids' Playing Status If They Didn't Pay Lodging Fees
10/15/2026
Athletic trainer at San Jose school accused of sexual battery of student
10/14/2026
Details emerge on police raid of ex-Kempsville High School athletic director’s home
10/11/2026
As sports betting is normalized, college players have become targets of aggrieved bettors
Rowing Resources
Below are resources related to Physical Safety and Environmental Safety within Rowing.
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Guide for managing low back pain in rowers
Physical Safety
Access information about preventing and managing low back pain.
Hydration for Endurance Athletes
Physical Safety
Learn why staying hydrated while exercising matters.
National Center for Cold Water Safety
Environmental Safety
Read about cold water safety, myths, and gear.
Relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs)
Physical Safety
Gain an understanding of REDs, symptoms and causes of REDs, and prevention.
Survivor Stories
Survivors are increasingly stepping forward to bravely tell their stories. The following stories reflect the survivors’ personal experiences, as told by them, and may be triggering for individuals who have experienced sexual abuse or misconduct. All information has been anonymized.
If you are a survivor interested in sharing your story and learning more about this process, please reach out to us at info@weridetogether.today.
We want to hear from you!
You are not alone.
What resources or information do you want for your sport? Contact us and let us know.
If you or someone you know has experienced misconduct or abuse, please access these resources for help. For additional information on confidential helplines, sexual assault reporting procedures, and mental health resources, click the button below.
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