Ernestine Bayer
Encyclopedia
Ernestine Bayer has been called the "Mother of Women's Rowing". She started rowing at a time when it was unheard of for women and paved the way for other women to follow after her.
and won a silver medal. In 1938 Ernestine founded the Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club
(PGRC). Following Title IX in 1972, she became a volunteer coach for the women's club at the University of New Hampshire. In 1980 she became the first woman to be awarded the John Carlin service award by the U.S. Rowing association. In 1989, Mrs. Bayer rowed in the World Rowing Organization's Masters Regatta that was held in the United States for the first time. In 1991 she competed in the Florida Masters Regatta and won in a mixed double and the single. Earlier that year she had competed in the Crash B indoor races in Boston and established a world record in her age bracket. In 1992 at age 83, she won her age division, 60 and over, in the Head of the Charles race. She was United States Rowing Sullivan Award nominee that year. At the age of 91 she set the world record on the Concept II rowing ergometer for women over the age of 90. Also that year she competed in the Master's World Championships in Montreal winning the women's double, the women's eight, and taking 2nd in the mixed double.
Rowing career
Ernestine met Ernest Bayer and they were married on January 28, 1928. Ernest raced in a coxless four in the 1928 Summer Olympics1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
and won a silver medal. In 1938 Ernestine founded the Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club
Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club
Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club is an amateur rowing club located at #14 Boathouse Row in the historic Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest all-female rowing club in existence...
(PGRC). Following Title IX in 1972, she became a volunteer coach for the women's club at the University of New Hampshire. In 1980 she became the first woman to be awarded the John Carlin service award by the U.S. Rowing association. In 1989, Mrs. Bayer rowed in the World Rowing Organization's Masters Regatta that was held in the United States for the first time. In 1991 she competed in the Florida Masters Regatta and won in a mixed double and the single. Earlier that year she had competed in the Crash B indoor races in Boston and established a world record in her age bracket. In 1992 at age 83, she won her age division, 60 and over, in the Head of the Charles race. She was United States Rowing Sullivan Award nominee that year. At the age of 91 she set the world record on the Concept II rowing ergometer for women over the age of 90. Also that year she competed in the Master's World Championships in Montreal winning the women's double, the women's eight, and taking 2nd in the mixed double.