Rowing Coxless Pair vs Rowing Single Scull

Two athletes share a narrow shell in the coxless pair, a sweep rowing class in which each rower uses one oar. There is no coxswain to steer or direct the crew, so those responsibilities remain with the athletes. Racing shells commonly have a rudder controlled through a rower's foot, while differences in pressure between the two oars can also affect the boat's direction. The men's event first appe...

One athlete controls both propulsion and balance in the single scull, a flatwater rowing class using a narrow racing boat and two oars. The rower faces backward on a sliding seat, using leg drive and body movement to extend the stroke. Unlike sweep rowing, where each athlete handles one oar, sculling places an oar in each hand and requires coordinated work on both sides of the boat. Men's single...