Performance Rowing

The Art and Science of Moving Your Boat Faster

Paul Thompson, Anthony Rice

More than a manual, Performance Rowing is a roadmap to rowing excellence and making every stroke count
Performance Rowing is the definitive guide to what really makes boats go faster. Blending cutting-edge science, this collaborative work brings together insights from rowing experts around the world. Whether you’re a rower, coach, sports scientist or simply a student of the sport, this book delivers the knowledge and tools to unlock your full performance potential. Written by Paul Thompson MBE, Olympic and World Champion coach, and internationally respected rowing leader, and Dr Anthony Rice, Senior Sports Physiologist with decades of experience in elite rowing and a specialist in human performance, this book draws on their combined expertise to bridge the gap between science and boat feel, lab metrics and on-water reality.
INSIDE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
• Everything you need to know about contemporary rowing coaching, from developing athletes to preparing medal-winning crews
• The biomechanical principles underpinning efficient, powerful rowing technique
• How to structure training to optimise physical development, energy system efficiency and long-term progression
• The latest rowing research and how it translates to real-world performance
• Gearing, rigging and how to fine-tune racing equipment for different rowers and conditions
From technique to technology, from the psychology of racing to the physiology of training, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the key elements that separate good crews from great ones.

ISBN: 9780719846021

Width: 172mm

Height: 242mm

Pages: 192

Published: May 26, 2026

Format: Paperback

Paul Thompson is GB Rowing Team's Chief Coach for Women and Lightweights and has coached World and Olympic champions both for his native Australia and for Great Britain. In 2007 he was the International Rowing Federation's Coach of the Year and was awarded the MBE for services to rowing in 2013.

DR ANTHONY RICE is a senior sports physiologist and specialist in human performance with decades of experience in elite rowing. He has worked closely with world-class athletes and coaches, translating cutting-edge sports science into practical strategies that optimise training, technique and on-water performance.