We are introducing a new feature today called Wayback Wednesday. The goal is to take a look back at rowing images from a time before row2k. Today we are looking at images from the 1932 Olympics.

These are the rowers of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics (the tenth recognized Olympics of the modern era). The Games were held during the Great Depression. Consequently some nations were unable to pay for the trip to Los Angeles. Only 37 nations attended the games compared to the 206 nations at the Rio Olympics.

Also, check out the US 1932 Olympic Tryout flyer

Rowing events took place at Long Beach Marine Stadium in Long Beach California. The waterway was originally only 1.5 km (0.93 mi) in length. An additional 0.5 km (0.31 mi) was dredged by 1932 in time for the Olympics. Dredging allowed races to occur 4 across to eliminate the need for additional heats.

There were only 7 rowing events in the Olympics at this time (Men’s 1x, 2x, 2-, 2+, 4-, 4+, and 8+). A total of 152 rowers from 13 nations competed at the Los Angeles Games. The US Men took home 3 golds and 1 silver. Women’s rowing was not a part of the Olympic program until 1976. Full results can be found here.

If you have any old school rowing images we should check out and are allowed to share, please send them to us.