promoting inclusion and accessibility for all rowers, regardless of gender identity.
Since 2022, Steady State Network has raced as Allies with Oars to promote inclusion and accessibility for all rowers, regardless of gender identity. We do this by pulling together competitive lineups for major regattas including USRowing Masters Nationals and Head of the Charles. In 2024, Allies with Oars crews also participated in Race Around the Rock, a coastal race in British Columbia, Canada.
The Allies with Oars initiative is part of our larger mission to expand the narrative about rowing culture. We were honored to receive USRowing’s 2023 Anita DeFrantz Award, recognizing an individual or organization achieving measurable success in expanding diversity opportunities in rowing.
The 2026 application window is closed. Applications for 2027 Ambassadors will open in November.
Allies with Oars AMBASSADORS
Allies Ambassadors are:
Trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive rowers, coaches, and coxswains
Allies, parents, and family members of trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive rowers, coaches, and coxswains
Committed and proud to represent and put into action the Allies With Oars initiative to promote inclusion and accessibility for all rowers, regardless of gender identity.
Enthusiastic and engaged members of the rowing community with active lives on social media
At least two of the above and actively training, racing, and/or coaching (any age, novice to elite)
Allies Ambassadors will:
Showcase and race in boat lineups you coordinate/support that represent the Allies With Oars initiative.
Represent and advocate for gender inclusion through social media posts, on-site (boathouse and regatta) advocacy, and sharing promotional materials
Invite dialogue at your boathouse and in your rowing network around gender inclusion in the areas of recruiting, racing, and retention
Benefits of membership:
Exclusive access to limited edition Allies Ambassador gear, including JL and Headsweats
Form your own Allies with Oars crews for events with the support of Steady State Network
Ambassador take-overs of Steady State Network and Allies with Oars socials on regatta days
Weekly Ambassador spotlights in the Steady State Network e-newsletter and socials
usrowing gender policy
& Competition categories
COMPETITION CATEGORIES
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, domestic events hosted by USRowing adopted the following categories for competition. For the sake of clarity, this excludes collegiate events, which are subject to following World Rowing’s policy.
Women: Limited to athletes who were assigned a sex at birth of female.
Men: For rowers of any sex and gender.
Open Gender: For rowers of any sex and gender. Rowers who participate in this category may compete in either the Women’s or Men’s competition category if they qualify for such category.
Mixed: A crew that contains 50% rowers who are qualified to compete in the Women’s competition category and 50% rowers of any sex.
Application
This Policy applies to all competitions sanctioned by USRowing and to all athletes and teams of athletes that USRowing designates to compete in World Rowing-sanctioned competition.
PODCAST SERIES: GENDER INCLUSION
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Trans/Athletes
Cillian Mullen and Liam Miranda
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Dr. Mary O'Connor
Fighting to Save Women’s Rowing
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Coach Ann Strayer
On Inclusion and Self-Worth in Rowing
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Coach Kevin Harris
On the Importance of Embracing Diversity
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Challenging the Binary
Making a New Lane in Rowing