And with Matthew Pinsent grabbing his fourth gold in Athens that popularity can only grow. Here's our guide to an oar-some sport!

The sport
Rowing uses more major muscle groups than any other sporting activity - and as your body is supported by the boat there is no jarring of the joints.

At the Olympics, events include individual (or scullers), double sculls, fours and eights.

In the eights, each team has a cox, who steers the boat whilst the others row. All the other races are coxless, so the boat is steered by a rudder line attached to one of the rower's shoes.

All races are held over a course of 2000m.

Getting started
The Academy's rowing section will give you all the info you need to find your nearest club - wherever you live in the UK. Follow the link below and get searching!

You could also try the Amateur Rowing Association. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, they'll tell you all you need to know.

Amateur Rowing Association
6 Lower Mall
Hammersmith
London
W6 9DJ
Tel: 020 8237 6700

Team GB

Cath Bishop Robin Bourne-Taylor Alan Campbell Helen Casey Ed Coode Christian Cormack Simon Cottle James Cracknell Jonno Devlin Rick Dunn Nick English Debbie Flood Tony Garbett Peter Gardner Katherine Grainger Mike Hennessey Frances Houghton Mark Hunter Tom James Tracy Langlands Matthew Langridge Elise Laverick Ian Lawson Tim Male Alison Mowbray Dan Ouseley Matthew Pinsent Rebecca Romero Phil Simmons Tom Stallard Andrew Triggs Hodge Peter Wells Matthew Wells Josh West Steve Williams Sarah Winckless

FROM THE BBC >>
::	Sport Academy rowing section