The Sportization of Rowing and Swimming in the Tietê River (São Paulo, Brazil, 1899–1949)

Abstract

This research analyzes the sportization of rowing and swimming in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The period investigated in this research − 1899 to 1949 – is one when rowing and swimming were widely practiced in the Tietê river. This research uses historical sources: minutes, official documents, and Magazines produced by the regatta’s clubs; and the newspapers A Gazeta and Correio Paulistano. Our hypothesis is that the emergence of clubs, associated with sports federations, transformed the practices of rowing and swimming in the Tietê River, turning them into sports. For rowing, the adoption of new rules followed the standardization of sports equipment. In swimming, the river crossing competitions incorporated new rules. The organization of aquatic Federations, by establishing a bureaucratic regulation, brought swimming and rowing closer to global practices. Amidst these processes, the geographic features of Tietê were a considerable barrier to the sportization of these practices. The solution proposed by the regatta clubs was to look for new spaces, such as lakes and swimming pools. We concluded that, although the aquatic practices gained sports features, they conflicted with local elements. Even though water sports developed in São Paulo were inspired by global elements, they were also influenced by local issues, such as the geography of the Tietê.