Rowing has long been considered the sport of privately-educated children and has often been dubbed "elitist" - just look at Trenton Oldfied's disruption of the Oxbridge Boat Race earlier this year.

Recent statistics show third of Great Britain's 2012 Olympic team was educated in private institutions, despite only 7% of the country's children being privately educated.

And rowing, in particular, seems to be one of the worst offenders. This year, 19 members of the 47-strong team went to private schools, including Chris Boddy and Katherine Copeland, who both went to Yarm School, and Constantine Louloudis, who attended Eton.

Sir Steve Redgrave - state school educated - repeatedly dons his armour and becomes the sport's shining knight in the elitism fight. The five-times Olympic gold medallist has said rowing is one of "the most accessible sports".

"It has not been elitist since Victorian times," he said in early July, but others disagree:


Liane Abrams
How could it ever not be? You need the location and equipment; elitism is fundamental. Removing it would destroy the sport.

The sport is notoriously expensive. Club membership alone can run into the thousands, while even the cheapest boats will set you back a couple of thousand. Add on the necessary kit, blades, transporting, as well as storing the boats - the never-ending costs will put many off.


Michael Rundle
It's an expensive sport with a high barrier to entry. But elitist implies selection bias. None there.

So it seems while the sport itself is not elitist - more that state schools are left trailing behind the private sector as they simply do not have the funds, or the resources, to offer rowing as a sport. One tweeter Martin Coxall drily asked: "Isn't it only posh schools that have a river?"


Mr. Wombat
Is rowing elitist? No, . It isn't rowing that's got the problem. State schools that fail their students - that's the issue.

Some seem to accept the imbalance as the status quo, while others draw attention to a more widespread problem, something which David Cameron addressed in July.


Daviejohn
, So? What is wrong with that, Include darts next time and let someone tell us they are all state educated,just for balance.

The Prime Minister said private schools were producing "more than their fair share" of medal winning athletes, with state schooled children being pushed out.

"Sport can change lives. So why is that in so many schools sport has been squeezed and facilities run down?" he asked.

"The result is that independent schools produce more than their fair share of medal winners and too many children think taking part in sport just isn't for them. We've got to change that."


Seb Gordon
Equestrian? Sailing? Pentathlon? Probably similar or worse, at a guess.

With many of the current team being private school alumni, and the racing held at the spectacular Dorney Lake, home to the Eton College team, it may be difficult to shake the "elitist" tag - regardless of whether it fits.

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  • Alan Campbell: Coleraine Academical Institution for Boys (grammar)

    Great Britain's Alan Campbell in action in the heats of the men's single sculls during the first day of the London Olympics.

  • Chris Boddy: Yarm School Private

    Chris Boddy at the GB Rowing squad announcement at the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake, Caversham.

  • Nick Beighton: Shrewsbury Sixth Form College (state)

  • Mark Hunter, right, Bower Park (state)

    Great Britain's Mark Hunter, right, and Zac Purchase stroke during a lightweight men's rowing double sculls heat in Eton Dorney, near Windsor,

  • Mohamed Sbihi, Hollyfield School (state)

    Team GB rowing member Mohamed Sbihi during the London 2012 kitting out session at Loughborough University, Loughborough.

  • Hester Goodsell Latymer Upper School, private

    Hester Goodsell at the GB Rowing squad announcement at the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake, Caversham.

  • Helen Glover Humphry Davy School (state)

    Helen Glover during the London 2012 kitting out session at Loughborough University, Loughborough.

  • Adam Freeman-Pask Windsor Boys School (state)

    Adam Freeman-Pask in action in the final of the lightweight mens singles during the Great Britain Rowing Team Senior Trials at Eton Dorney Lake

  • Katherine Copeland Yarm School (private)

    Britain's Katherine Copeland competes in the Women's Lightweight Single Sculls semifinals at the Rowing World Championships in Bled, Slovenia

  • Jo Cook: The Lady Eleanor Holles School, (private)

    Jo Cook during the London 2012 kitting out session at Loughborough University, Loughborough.