Rowing has been around since the dawn of civilization because it was a way for transportation and warfare. Rowing is not an easy sport, it was actually used as a form of torture for prisoners during ancient times. However, rowing has become an Olympic sport, and many people continuously put their bodies through the hardship of rowing for the sake of competition. The sporting aspect of rowing dates back to the seventeenth century where Thames River taxis and ferries wold compete with one another over fares or just for the competition. The early rowing competitions received so much acclaim that it was part of the first Olympics held in 1896. Unfortunately, the weather did not permit to rowing in the 1896 Athens Olympics, so it made its debut in the 1900 Paris Olympics.