Saudi Arabia’s rowers bid to make waves internationally

RIYADH: The fledgling Saudi Rowing Federation plans to make a splash on the world scene with bids to host the 2025 indoor and the 2027 beach sprint championships, says national captain and Olympian Husein Alireza.

Alireza, the country’s first rowing Olympian, who competed in Tokyo in 2021, made the remarks during an appearance recently on Arab News’ podcast The Mayman Show.

He said the aim is to grow the sport in the Kingdom, which includes awareness and education activities.

“A lot of people think it’s on the machine, which they’ve only been exposed to, but rowing is on the water. It’s not really on the machine.”

Alireza said the federation’s grassroots-based plan comprises scouting, recruitment and development. Officials have been visiting schools to assess students on their fitness and biomechanical suitability for the sport. Taller people, with their longer levers tend to be more successful, but this is not always the case, he added.

The development phase has six parts, starting with learning to row and ending with specific training on how to win competitions.

The federation, formed just three years ago, is now headed by Yousaf Jelaidan as CEO, with Matthew Tarrant, a five-time world champion rower, serving as coach.

Alireza started rowing while studying at Cambridge University. He quickly excelled, coached by the renowned Bill Barry. He said Barry holds the unique distinction of having competed at separate Olympic Games in Tokyo as both an athlete and a coach, in 1964 and 2021.

Alireza’s dedication paid off with a gold medal at the Saudi Games and a spot at the Olympics. He said he trained relentlessly, three times a day, with only one day off every two weeks, for four years.

These days Alireza has been drawn to coastal rowing, as opposed to classic contests. “The coastal run just opens up whole new world and it’s a little easier to get a hold of, to master than traditional. So it’ll involve a lot more Saudis,” he said.

He said this type of rowing — which will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — is more suited to Saudi Arabia’s environment with its many beaches.

Alireza has been elected to the Olympic Council of Asia Athletes’ Committee for his contributions to the sport’s growth. He has also become an advocate for the Peace and Sport initiative, a Monaco-based nonprofit organization comprising athletes dedicated to promoting peace worldwide.

Alireza sees an exciting time ahead for the development of Saudi Arabia’s sports sector.

He pointed to the Kingdom now having over 97 sports federations compared to just 32 in 2015. Initiatives such as Nafes, a platform facilitating private sector access to licenses for opening sports clubs and academies, alongside the hosting of top-tier events, has contributed to the industry’s expansion.

“Maybe some people don’t really fully understand what the point of hosting these events are. I’ll speak from an athlete’s perspective. Number one, it encourages a competitive environment in the country. To host world-class athletes, to demonstrate world-class performances and expose the people to what it takes to perform on the world stage, that’s priceless,” Alireza said.

“It’s intrinsically linked to the Quality of Life (program), which is under the Vision 2030. So the social and economic benefits of hosting these events are undeniable and well-documented,” he added.

Alireza’s sporting journey has taken a new direction as he ventures into the world of luxury and fashion. He recently forged a partnership with global brand Nike, becoming the first rower to do so.

And he has signed with Cartier, a brand that holds deep emotional significance for him because his late mother wore one of the manufacturer’s watches her entire life.