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For those of us who love to train, it’s hard to find better motivation to hit a workout than watching the Olympic Games. Now happening in Paris, the XXXIII Olympiad has already delivered plenty of incredible feats of strength, impossible records, and shocking victories. One of the more shocking moments took place when Team USA pulled ahead of New Zealand to win the country’s first rowing gold medal in men’s four since 1960. Between that and George Clooney’s recent movie adaptation of The Boys in The Boat, rowing is definitely having a moment.
Catch The 2024 Summer Olympics On Peacock
Given the sports increased visibility, more people than ever are looking to add a rowing machine to their home gym set-ups and the crew here at Men’s Health couldn’t be more pleased. We’ve long sung the praises of the full-body workout that can deliver intense cardio-focused sessions from the comfort of your living room or garage. For anyone feeling lost at sea when it comes to selection, be sure to check out our comprehensive breakdown in our 10 Best Rowing Machines.
But one machine that we want to spotlight in particular on the heels of the Team USA win is the Concept2 RowErg. This machine is the gold standard when it comes to rowing machines, trusted by high-performance facilities all over the world to deliver lung-busting, muscle-leaning workouts. On top of that, as far as rowing machines go, it’s actually one of the most affordable, durable, and space-saving options on the market.
Concept2 RowErg with PM5 Monitor
Pros
- Durable, high-quality construction supports up to 500 pounds
- Easy to assemble (20-30 minutes with just 8 screws)
- The industry standard for competitive rowing
- Separates into two pieces for easy storage
- Adjustable footrests and an ergonomic handle
Cons
- Lacks smart connectivity
The Concept2 is what Team USA used to train for the Olympic Games, as told to MH by newly-minted gold medalist Justin Best. “For a lot of us Olympic athletes, the rowing machine is where we started because it’s the best place to learn the correct form,” says Best. So if you ever do plan to take your stroke outdoors to a canoe or other watercraft, this exercise could help you improve like it does the pros. “I can’t imagine training on anything other than a Concept2, and it’s where we do all of our fitness evaluations.”
Best also mentions that despite the Concept2 lacking the high-tech gadgetry we see on a lot of new machines, its ability to adjust resistance and simple-yet-helpful PM5 monitor offers everything you could want plus more.
How to Watch the Summer Olympic Games
Peacock has become one of the major players when it comes to a streaming service that also offers exclusive broadcast viewing given its connection to NBC networks, and this includes the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Subscribers of Peacock are able to view events from all 39 sports in the Games, from basketball to soccer to swimming to rowing. You can watch these events live, on demand after work, or even in specially-cut highlight packages that showcase the most amazing feats.
There’s no free trial available, but for $5.99/month for the Premium or $11.99/month for the Premium Plus it’s well worth giving it a try at least over the Olympic Games. If you’re like me, you’ll keep the subscription going for Universal Pictures movie releases, NBC classics like 30 Rock, and Peacock exclusives like Those About To Die, Twisted Metal, and Stephen Curry’s upcoming Mr. Throwback.
