The rowing event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics promises to be an extremely competitive affair. The medal contenders in both the men’s and women’s fields will be primarily hail from Great Britain, US, Germany, Australia and recent up-and-comers, China. The Chinese, previously minnows in rowing, have drastically improved and won five gold medals at the recent World Cup in Amsterdam.

Great Britain will enter expecting to continue their impressive Olympic record that saw the likes of Sir Steven Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent so impressively win gold. Britain are favourites to win the women’s quadruple scull and look in strong shape, with Katherine Grainger the pick of the rowers.

The men’s coxless fours will see an intriguing matchup between Australia, Great Britain and the Netherlands with Britain’s former dominance in the event in question following an injury plagued year. The men’s eights look set to be an open run race with Britain, Canada, Germany and Australia all in with a realistic chance of a gold medal whilst the women’s eights gold seems likely to be won by either Australia or the US.