Some said that Henrik Stephansen of Denmark had peaked when he set the World Record for lightweights on the indoor rowing machine in 2009. Becoming the first lightweight to go under six minutes and recording a time of 5:58.5 for 2,000m, they said, was as good as he would get. Stephansen, however, has proved the doubters wrong. Records are there to be broken and the Dane, again, repositioned the goal posts with his 5:57.4.

As the New Year gets well under way, World Rowing looks back over the best of social media from the end of 2011 and the first month of 2012. It was a time for reflection but, despite holidays, there was little reprieve from the busyness. Elite athletes continued to train and social media followers continued to add their voice in various and creative ways.

The indoor rowing World Record for lightweight men has been broken. Denmark’s Henrik Stephansen has set a new fastest time over 2,000m, breaking his own record by just over one second while racing at the Danish Indoor Rowing Championships in Copenhagen.