Rowing was on the program at the 1896 Summer Olympics but was cancelled due to bad weather.

There is a limited number of crews permitted to race, so World Rowing holds qualification events in order to determine who competes at the Olympic Games.

Other qualifying events are called "Continental Qualification Regattas", of which four are held during the year preceding the games - Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Final (open to everyone else).

At the World Championships, the top finishing boats guarantee a place for that country - the rowers in the crew can be changed before the games.

Number of rowers from each nation by year of Olympics, starting with 1896 (when none competed due to bad weather) then 1900 through 2020.