Fairbairn, Stephen

Stephen Fairbairn, (born Aug. 25, 1862, Melbourne—died May 16, 1938, London), British oarsman, coach, and writer who enjoyed great success at Cambridge University.

After attending Wesley College in Australia, Fairbairn continued his education and first achieved rowing prominence at Jesus College, Cambridge. He rowed for Cambridge in the 1880s and in 1931 titled his autobiography Fairbairn of Jesus.

As a coach at Cambridge he enjoyed great success with an innovative approach. The orthodox system emphasized body swing as the main source of power; Fairbairn’s stroke concentrated on leg drive, arm pull, and smooth blade work. His stroke was short on the water, and his technique demanded a high degree of physical fitness. Fairbairn’s influence was felt internationally and led to a number of equipment modifications and developments. Slides were lengthened, swivel rowlocks replaced fixed pins, and crews sat in straight lines rather than in staggered positions. In 1926 Fairbairn organized the first Head of the River Race on the Thames, which quickly became a fixture in the sport. His Rowing Notes (1926) is considered a seminal rowing book.