“The Boys In The Boat” Olympics Drama And Rowing God’s Boat

Back view of 8+ rowing crew in a shell in the water with oars extended — An 8+ rowing crew [Image by Werner Sidler from Pixabay]

While the Olympics only last a few days, tales of what happened during those events live on in people’s minds and in the history books. One of those events is the stunning American win in the 8+ men’s rowing competition in Berlin’s 1936 Summer Olympics. Now referred to as the boys in the boat event, it provided Olympic drama and is instructive for rowing God’s boat.

What’s Rowing?

While most everyone’s familiar with the children’s song “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” knowledge about the sport of rowing isn’t so common. Often called crew in the US, rowing involves racing boats using oars. These oars, unlike paddles, are connected to the boat by oarlocks, and crewmembers pull two oars each. The racing boats, also known as shells, are long and narrow in shape.

One form of such racing, and the type for “The Boys In The Boat,” takes its name from the composition of its crew. The 8+ crew includes eight rowers and one coxswain or “cox.” The cox steers the boat with the rudder. He also coordinates the rowers’ pace and rhythm by communicating with them via a “cox box” and speakers. His position is usually sitting in the front of the boat facing the rowers.

Who Were The Boys In The Boat?

The junior varsity 8+ team from the University of Washington competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. All nine team members came from lower-middle class families and struggled to get through college during the height of the Depression. Without prior, rowing experience they were drawn to try out for the team because members were assured a part-time job and regular food.

The men worked hard and eventually surpassed the varsity team’s skills. A win at the Poughkeepsie Regatta allowed them to claim a slot in the upcoming Olympics. The US Olympic Committee didn’t have the money to send the team, but with support from their community, the University of Washington’s team raised the hefty amount to go (the equivalent of $110,000 in 2023) in a week’s time. Once in Nazi-controlled Germany, the Team USA dealt with the illness of one of its rowers, Don Hume.

Side view of Adolf Hitler saluting athletes at the 1936 Summer Olympics opening ceremony — Image from Wikimedia Commons

Why Are The Boys In The Boat Famous?

The University of Washington’s 8+ team, then Team USA, competed against other teams including the elite German 9ne. German rowing teams were winning medals right and left and hoped to accomplish a gold-medal sweep of the rowing events. Adding to the pressure at the race was the attendance of Adolf Hitler. He’d been at all the rowing events and congratulated the winners.

Despite a rough start to the race, the Americans pulled it together to gain ground from far back in the pack. The came from behind to cross the finish line in a photo finish with the Italians and Germans. To Adolf Hitler’s disbelief, the boys in the boat came from last place to pull off a stunning win. He did not met with this winning team nor congratulate them. But the Americans took home the gold for winning that event.

Picture of gold medal from 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin — Gold medal from the 1936 Summer Olympics [Image from Wikimedia Commons]

Recent Media Attention

A book and the subsequent movie based on it brought the story alive for those unfamiliar with what happened. Author Daniel James Brown’s 2013 non-fiction work, The Boys In The Boat, written after interviews with 1936 rower Joe Rantz, became a best seller. The subsequent movie of the same name released in December 2023 was directed and co-produced by George Clooney and starred British actor Callum Turner as Joe Rantz.

Callum Turner portrayed rower Joe Rantz in the movie “The Boys In The Boat” [Image from Wikimedia Commons]

Rowing God’s Boat

What’s required to successfully race an 8+ team like the 1936 gold medal Team USA applies to rowing God’s boat as well. While no tangible boat exists, the body of Christ does. And believers all make up its figurative rowing team as 1 Corinthians 12:27 indicates. Three points in particular translate well from rowing world to faith world.

First, the team must work “as one.” Synchronization of their movements and a focused goal are critical. Each is an individual athlete, or body part, but together they make up one body. Similarly, the body of Christ is one body made up of many parts per 1 Corinthians 12:12. Meeting together regularly for prayer and fellowship fosters that unity. Actor Callum Turner remarked that the rowers deep connection was the most important part of the journey.

Second, the journey isn’t an easy one. In John 16:33, Jesus warned His disciples they would experience trouble in this world. Team members underwent rigorous training, experiencing sore muscles, calloused hands, and fatigue. For the movie alone, the actors playing team members underwent two months of training four hours every day.

Finally, the competition is evil in the sense that their goal is to thwart God’s team from winning. Hitler’s elite rowing team fought the 8+ Team USA down to a photo finish end. And what could be more evil than a team back by Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich? Team Satan challenging God’s team daily.

Olympics Drama Instructs On Rowing God’s Boat

Paul likened the Christian life to a race in Hebrews 12:1. Thus, the experiences of The Boys in the Boat provide valuable lessons as the body of Christ attempts to do life together. Those experiences point to the need for team members to work as one, to expect challenges and difficulties, and to understand that the ultimate competitor, Satan, desires to thwart God’s team in succeeding.