Warsaw Rowing Society

Warsaw Rowing Society (Warszawskie Towarzystwo Wioślarskie, WTW) is a Polish sports association founded in Warsaw in 1878, making it the oldest Polish sports society. It was a founding member of the Polish Rowing Association (Polski Związek Towarzystw Wioślarskich). Its headquarters are located on the Czerniakowski Cape in the Solec district of Warsaw. The club operates rowing, kayaking, and sailing sections, and maintains several facilities including Wioślarska 6, Przystań Zaruskiego 12, and the Marina named after Druh Komandor Jerzy Kurek. WTW also runs an official online shop selling branded apparel such as training shorts, long-sleeve shirts, lifestyle jackets, racing leotards, T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, and hoodies, with prices ranging from 89.00 zł to 270.00 zł. The club has a long history of sporting achievements, with a total of 1878 medals, and has been a member of the Polish Olympic movement. It was reactivated in 1957 after a period of inactivity. The current director is Maciej Śliwiński, who was also elected president of the Warsaw-Masovian Rowing Association. The club remains active in promoting rowing and water sports in Poland.

Warsaw Rowing Society (Warszawskie Towarzystwo Wioślarskie, WTW) was founded in Warsaw in 1878, making it the oldest Polish sports society. It was established during the period of Russian partition, when Polish sports organizations were banned. The idea of creating a rowing society for Poles emerged after the January Uprising. Ephemeral groups of rowers had formed since 1873, but it was not until 1878 that a group of 11 people led by merchant Antoni Chojnacki and craftsman Władysław Deniszczuk created an illegal comradely-rowing circle. The first rowing boat, 'Nimfa', was built in the workshop of carpenter Mianowicz, and the first marina was a barge anchored on the Vistula at the mouth of Bednarska Street. In June 1882, thanks to the efforts of the first president, Dr. Henryk Stankiewicz, the Tsarist authorities approved the first statute known as the 'WTW Act'. According to it, the society's goal was 'to encourage the local population to ride on rowing and sailing boats as well as on steam ships'. In addition to rowing, the statute provided for ice skating, gymnastics, and swimming. At the time of legalization, WTW had 19 rowing boats and 290 members. The number of rowing boats increased steadily throughout the pre-World War I period, reaching 170 in 1912. The number of members grew to 671 by the end of 1882, 989 in 1888, and 1120 in 1914. Due to high entry fees and dues, WTW was an elite organization, bringing together relatively wealthy people recommended by existing members. Members at that time were exclusively men; the first women were admitted in 1936. Members included Bolesław Prus and Henryk Sienkiewicz. The first three WTW marinas were floating. The third, built in 1883, survived until the mid-interwar period. The 'winter' headquarters was initially in the Brühl Palace, then on Miodowa Street, and then in the Łubieński Palace on Królewska Street. In 1897, WTW moved to a new, impressive headquarters called the 'WTW House' or 'Dom', located on Foksal Street. It was built on a plot purchased by the then-president, Count Branicki, at his own expense. In 1899, WTW decided to buy back the building, to which Branicki agreed, offering very favorable terms and repayment in installments over 43 years. Before World War I, WTW conducted a wide range of sporting, social, and companionship activities. In addition to promoting rowing and other sports, it organized the social life of Warsaw's Polish population. The marina and the winter premises were meeting places for Poles, where balls, dances, and readings of Polish poetry were organized. The club also organized 'Wianki' celebrations, which were de facto national demonstrations. The 'Duda' choir (singing Polish songs) and an amateur theater operated at WTW. Polish patriotic celebrations were held. The society also conducted charitable activities and maintained water rescue points on the Vistula. WTW was a model for Polish rowing clubs created under partition, including PTW Płock and WTW Włocławek. It initiated competition and cooperation among Polish clubs not only from the Russian partition but also from the Prussian (KW-04 Poznań) and Austrian partitions (Oddział Wioślarski Sokoła Krakowskiego and AZS Kraków). The outbreak of World War I caused a brief limitation of WTW's activities due to the closure of water traffic on the Vistula. After the destruction of Warsaw bridges and the entry of the German army into Warsaw in 1915, WTW organized transport of the population across the Vistula. Shortly thereafter, rowing training on the water was allowed, and in 1916–1918 competitions were even held on the Vistula. WTW did not suffer serious material losses during the war. After regaining independence, in December 1919, WTW, along with twelve other Polish clubs, founded the Polish Rowing Association. During the war with the Bolsheviks in 1920, WTW provided 6 armed platoons in club uniforms to defend bridges and crossings. In recognition of its merits, the City Board of Warsaw allocated WTW a plot on the Vistula above the Poniatowski Bridge for the construction of a permanent marina. In subsequent years, the number of members increased significantly – to 2300 in 1922. WTW was thus one of the most numerous sports organizations of the Second Polish Republic. This necessitated the construction of a new marina, which was finally built in 1929 and was the largest rowing marina in Europe. On three floors of the building there were, among others: changing rooms for 800 people, a winter rowing pool, and a luxury restaurant. The old floating marina (the third marina) was pulled ashore and used as a reading room and social games salon, and the tower was used by judges during regattas on the Vistula. The result of the society's good financial situation and improving social conditions were numerous sporting successes, crowned by supremacy in the national classification of rowing clubs in 1931–1937 and successes of club crews that, representing Poland at the Olympic Games, won medals. Most WTW members, however, practiced rowing tourism (often multi-day – even beyond the borders of Poland) and recreationally enjoyed entertainment provided by other means. After World War II, WTW resumed activity in 1957 but did not have its own headquarters. The marina on Wioślarska Street was used by 'Skra', and the building on Foksal Street was occupied by 'Polonia'. In 2017, a modern sports facility for rowing was opened at 6 Wioślarska Street in Warsaw. The new building was erected in place of the old headquarters of the Society, built in 1929. The current Wioślarska 6 is a seven-story building meeting the highest standards. WTW athletes can train in ultra-modern conditions, and the facility has become one of the most beautiful showcases of the capital.

• 2017

  Modern sports facility opened at 6 Wioślarska Street, replacing the 1929 building.

• 1957

  Resumed activity after World War II.

• 1936

  First women admitted to the society.

• 1931

  Began period of supremacy in national rowing club classification (1931–1937).

• 1929

  New permanent marina built, the largest rowing marina in Europe at the time.

• 1922

  Membership reached 2300, one of the largest sports organizations in the Second Polish Republic.

• 1920

  Provided 6 armed platoons to defend bridges during the Polish-Soviet War.

• 1919

  Co-founded the Polish Rowing Association (PZTW) with twelve other clubs.

• 1899

  Decided to buy back the Foksal building from Count Branicki with 43-year installment plan.

• 1897

  Moved to new headquarters 'Dom WTW' on Foksal Street.

• 1883

  Third floating marina built, surviving until the mid-interwar period.

• 1882

  First statute approved by Tsarist authorities; 19 boats and 290 members.

• 1878

  Founded in Warsaw as an illegal rowing circle by 11 people led by Antoni Chojnacki and Władysław Deniszczuk.

Poland's oldest and most historic rowing society, combining elite sporting tradition with modern facilities and branded merchandise.

• Shortsleeve training shirt

• Longsleeve training shirt

• Lifestyle jacket

• Racing leotard

• WTW Warszawa T-shirt

• Training sweatshirt

• Cap with visor

• Hoodie

1. 1Warszawskie Towarzystwo Wioślarskie – official websitewtw.waw.pl
2. 2Warszawskie Towarzystwo Wioślarskie – Wikipedia (Polish)pl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Warsaw Rowing Society – Wikidatawikidata.org