57: Rowing Forward: Rowing Accessibility and the Impact of Technology on Rowing Performance

Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center 

Technology tools have become increasingly influential in the sport of rowing; however, limited understanding remains regarding how technologies relate to team performance and how access varies across regions. This study examines geographic disparities in rowing access and the relationship between technology adoption and performance outcomes. Data from ~1,400 rowing clubs from USRowing.com were combined with state-level economic data and Google search trends measuring public interest. Coaches were surveyed regarding their teams' socioeconomic data, technology use, and performance, measured by race times. Regression analyses indicate that states with higher GDPs contain more clubs, and states with more clubs show greater public interest in rowing. Survey-based regression models suggest that coaches lack a clear understanding of the performance associations of individual rowing technologies and find that different tools can positively or negatively affect performance. Overall, findings suggest expanding infrastructure to enhance access and interest, improving coaches' understanding of each tool, and balancing resource allocation between accessibility and targeted technology use.

Rowing

Sport technology

Geographical accessibility

Performance outcomes 

Section on Statistics in Sports