The oldest continually held athletic event in the world, Henley has been contested since 1832 at the town of Henley-on-Thames in England. Hundreds of thousands of spectators gather during the last week of June and the first week of July to watch two rowing crews at a time compete in a single elimination format for the right to be inscribed in the Book of Victors and to have their names etched on the eternal trophies, like the Diamond Sculls for the single.
Until the late 1990's, only men's events were held, but an exposition of women's eights was established along with a separate women's Henley regatta, though it is contested weeks before on a different racecourse.
In 2000, Aquil Abdullah of the United States became the first black rower to win the Diamond Sculls. Past winners include Jack Kelly, Jr.