Testimonials and use cases
The following testimonials reflect what people who have actually experienced the BIOROWER say—not what we want them to say.
There is a traditional Austrian saying: ‘Was es wiegt, das hat es’ (literally: ‘What it weighs, it has’). It means that true substance and quality cannot be faked. I prefer to stick to facts and real-world results, even when modern marketing often suggests otherwise. These stories are the factual weight behind our engineering.
Aram, Founder
Case Study: Olympic Excellence | Magdalena Lobnig
When an Olympic Medallist says it feels “Natural,” you know it’s Real.
Magdalena Lobnig is one of the world’s elite single scullers. For her, the feeling of the water is non-negotiable. Using the BIOROWER Club, the Olympic Medallist confirmed: ‘It feels very natural compared to the water.’
While the Pro model offers additional layers of instability for the absolute elite, Magdalena’s feedback proves that our core technology—the authentic sculling motion—is present in every machine we build. Whether you choose the Club or the Pro, you are training on a system that is trusted by the very best in the sport to maintain their world-class feel, even when they are off the water.
Finally, an indoor rower that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It feels like rowing.
“It was instant. As soon as I took the first stroke, I knew this was different.”
As a Dutch sculler, I was immediately impressed by the Biorower. It is the first machine that truly brings the on-water feeling to land. Specifically, the independent power measurement for the left and right hands provides feedback that standard ergometers simply can’t match. You feel every nuance of the drive and balance—exactly like in the boat. For me, it is the ultimate tool to not just maintain but actively improve my technique during the winter months.
The Executive Physician | Eastern United States”
“This custom BIOROWER Pro in ‘British Racing Green’ was commissioned for a prominent doctor’s private residence. Although not a competitive rower, our client sought a solution to maintain peak physical and mental focus during his demanding workdays. He chose the custom Cedar wood racing seat for both its comfort and its timeless aesthetic. For him, the BIOROWER is more than a tool—it is a daily high-performance ritual that compensates for the stress of the medical profession.
Beyond the Machine: Global White-Glove Excellence.”
David’s seamless transition to sculling at age 80 was no accident. For his installation in London, our specialized technicians flew in directly from our manufactory in Vienna. We don’t just deliver a box; we deliver a turnkey high-performance system. From precision assembly to personalized biomechanical instruction, we ensure that your first stroke is as perfect as the engineering behind it—no matter where in the world your home gym is located.
Better Than a Rowing Tank
The Ultimate Verdict from the Elite: No other machine comes closer.
Elite rower Flo Donald has spent thousands of hours in racing shells and professional rowing tanks. Her verdict after testing the BIOROWER Pro is clear: There is no other rowing machine on the market that captures the true essence of on-water rowing so accurately.
In her eyes, the BIOROWER even surpasses specialized rowing tanks in terms of feel and technical feedback. It is the only system that provides the resistance and biomechanics required for world-class preparation.
Watch the full interview: Elite rower Flo Donald explains why the BIOROWER Pro is her first choice for realistic off-water training.
The “Ambassador of Excellence” | Virginia, USA
When the Best is Still Not Enough: Rich’s Journey from Real Estate to Rowing.
Rich DiGiovanna, a highly successful real estate entrepreneur from Virginia, didn’t just buy a BIOROWER—he bought three before even testing them. At age 70, Rich is proof that peak fitness has no expiration date. Despite facing nerve challenges, he credits the BIOROWER and Aram’s coaching for keeping him ambitious and fitter than ever.
Upon receiving his BIOROWER Club, Rich’s reaction was immediate: ‘This is the best rowing machine in the world.’ But when he stepped onto the BIOROWER Pro, he was stunned: ‘It is unbelievable that there is still something better than the Club.’
For Rich, the Pro’s unique instability function is the game-changer. It perfectly prepares him for his single scull on the water, blending elite athletic preparation with life-changing health benefits. Today, he is so convinced of the results that he has become a dedicated partner, sharing the BIOROWER experience across the US.
The Medical Expert’s Diagnosis | Munich, Germany
Walking on a Razor’s Edge” to the Perfect Stroke.
Dr. Carl Thora, a prominent physician from Munich, lived with a chronic back injury for decades. For him, traditional rowing machines felt like ‘balancing on a razor’s edge’—one wrong move could trigger a painful relapse.
Everything changed in February 2024 when he invested in a BIOROWER Pro. His medical verdict? ‘One of the best investments of my life.’
The BIOROWER’s authentic biomechanics allowed him to train without fear, strengthening his core and spinal alignment so effectively that he made the leap from the machine straight into a racing shell on the water—without any prior rowing experience. Dr. Thora’s story is a testament to the BIOROWER not just as a fitness tool, but as a precision instrument for lifelong physical resilience.”
For the first time in 30 years, I feel nothing.” – From Chronic Pain to 2,000 km of Pure Performance.
Switching to the BIOROWER Pro was one of the best investments of my life.“
— Ralf, 60, former competitive swimmer & marathon runner.
— Ralf, 60, former competitive swimmer & marathon runner.
The Athlete: Ralf, 60, Munich (Germany). Former competitive swimmer and long-distance runner.
The Challenge: 30 years of persistent lower back issues. One wrong move felt like a “shot in the back.”
The Verdict: “I rowed 28,000 km on the Concept2, but it always felt like balancing on a razor blade. Switching to the BIOROWER Pro was one of the best investments of my life.”
The Challenge: 30 years of persistent lower back issues. One wrong move felt like a “shot in the back.”
The Verdict: “I rowed 28,000 km on the Concept2, but it always felt like balancing on a razor blade. Switching to the BIOROWER Pro was one of the best investments of my life.”
The Science behind the Relief: Ralf explains that the circular sculling motion allows for a spinal stretch that linear rowers can’t provide. After just a few weeks of training, the pain he lived with for three decades simply vanished.
The Result: Ralf now rows over 2,500 km per year, maintaining an elite pace (1:57/500m) without warm-ups, stretching, or weightlifting. For him, the BIOROWER isn’t just a machine—it’s the restoration of his physical freedom.
Ralf has become an ambassador for Biorower and even has his own youtube channel:
Read Ralf’s unfiltered feedback here:
About myself: 74kg, 179cm, 60 years old (more precisely, in 3 weeks). Was a competition swimmer in my youth and as young adult, later focused on long distance running. Finally switched to rowing ergometers. I did probably 28000 kilometers on the Concept2 of which only 12000 are documented because in the beginning I missed to document entire years. Since February 29th 2024 I switched to the Biorower Pro, which I consider to be one of the best investments of my life! To explain that, I have to mention I hurt my back in my twenties. Since then I had a constant presence in my lower back. Not always hurting, but always there. Basically I can do everything, sometimes I make a bad move and then have problems to stand upright for a couple of days. Rowing does strengthen your back. So I did a lot of rowing on the Concept2, but I had to be very conscious about my movements, because one bad move and it felt like a shot in the back. Usually I had that under control, but rowing on the Concept2 always felt like balancing on a razor blade. One bad move and you hurt yourself.
Then my wife happened to see the Biorower web page and the wild claims how good that thing is for your back. We all know how marketing works, don’t we? Fortunately I got the opportunity to test the machine. A different world. Let me explain. The usual rowing ergometers are based on the same principle. You grab a bar, hands in shoulder wide distance from each other, and pull. The hands always at the same distance through all the movement. The Biorower simulates real ores, the hands move on partial circles and, like in a real boat (I never sat in a real rowing boat), at mid-pull the left hand is over the right hand. That also means, going forward the hands move outside to the left and right. This lets you stretch your spine which makes all the difference. After a couple of weeks of training with the Biorower I noticed I was missing something: The persistent presence of where I had hurt my back was gone! For the first time in 30 years I am standing there, feeling nothing! Also, the movement on the Biorower is more complex than on the have-a-shoulder-wide-grip rowing ergometers, which I like. After 1920 documented kilometers on the Biorower I feel I can claim to have some experience. In normal years I row between 2200 and 3000 kilometers. Ergometer rowing is the only sport I do. I enter the machine, row, get off, that’s it. No warming up, no stretching, no weight lifting. Weight lifting being the only thing that I admit could be benefitial for my rowing, but I hate it.
So far my best results on the Biorower: 15346m in 1h 10-OCT-2024 (pace of 1:57.2), 29368m in 1:55:48.9 (pace of 1:58.7).
Tired but Happy: Reclaiming Vitality at 84.
When we installed this BIOROWER for Duilio in Italy, it wasn’t just about delivering equipment; it was about delivering a new chapter of health. At 84 years old, Duilio completed his first 20-minute session and shared his joy: “I am tired, but happy! Tomorrow, I aim for 30 minutes.”
This is why we fly our technicians across borders. Seeing a client in their ninth decade find fresh motivation and the physical strength to set new goals is the ultimate proof of our mission. The BIOROWER doesn’t just build muscle; it builds the spirit of endurance
Science-Backed Spinal Health
Proven by Science: Why Your Back Prefers Angular Biomechanics.
A landmark study by Dr. Ricardo Cardoso (University of Porto, 2024) has finally quantified what elite rowers have felt for years. When comparing the BIOROWER (angular motion) to traditional ‘straight-line’ rowing machines, the results were definitive:
- Better Posture: The study found a significantly more natural thorax angle at the finish (19.4° vs. 27.5°), mirroring the healthy posture of a racing shell rather than the forced lean of linear machines.
- Reduced Strain: Participants reported a lower perceived exertion on the BIOROWER, indicating that the body performs more efficiently when not fighting unnatural linear forces.
- Core Activation: The angular ‘sculling’ motion engages the core and back muscles in a balanced, protective way, significantly reducing the risk of the lumbar overload typical of standard indoor rowers.
For our clients, this means more than just a workout. It is the scientific certainty that you are strengthening your body without compromising your spinal integrity.
Scientist Dr. Ricardo Cardoso (University of Porto) explains the mechanical variables that make the BIOROWER superior for spinal health and rapid muscle recovery (0:54).
While the physiological load (oxygen consumption and lactate) remains consistently high across rowing systems (1:42), Dr. Cardoso’s study reveals a critical difference in muscle recovery and mechanical impact(1:20).
- Accelerated Muscle Recovery: The study showed that muscle function impairment lasts significantly longer on traditional static machines (1:20). Athletes using the BIOROWER recovered faster from the same level of effort (1:34).
- Kinematic Superiority: The ‘Bio-Mechanical’ advantage lies in the movement pattern (2:12). While linear machines often strain the back, the BIOROWER’s unique kinematics are designed to be easier on your spine (0:51).
In short: You get the same elite cardiovascular workout, but your body recovers faster and your back stays protected. It is not just about training harder—it is about training smarter.
At the Head of the Charles Regatta, the atmosphere is electric and the standards are unforgiving. We put the BIOROWER in front of thousands of athletes, masters rowers, and world-class coaches to get their unfiltered feedback.
The response was unanimous: ‘This is the most realistic rowing experience I’ve ever felt off the water.’
From veteran coaches noting its potential as a game-changing club tool to elite athletes admitting they had never felt a machine mirror the boat so accurately—the message was clear. These aren’t just endorsements; they are the expert consensus from the heart of the global rowing community that the BIOROWER has finally closed the gap between land and water.
Case Study: From Zero to Elite | Jakob’s Performance Journey
Technical Perfection from the First Stroke.
Jakob’s rise in the rowing world is a testament to the power of correct biomechanics. Starting later than most competitive athletes, he bypassed years of technical struggle by using the BIOROWER as his primary learning and training tool from day one.
The result? Jakob became one of the fastest lightweight rowers in Austrian history. With a personal best of 6:53 in the single scull, he secured a medal at the U23 European Championships and placed in the top 10 at the World Cup in Lucerne and Belgrade.
His journey proves that when your indoor training 1:1 mirrors the physics of the water, the transition to elite performance becomes seamless. Whether you are aiming for a World Cup podium or simply want to master the perfect stroke in your living room, the BIOROWER is the shortcut to excellence.
(David, Medical Doctor, USA)
The Competitive Edge | Dr. David, USA
Why a CRASH-B Competitor and Medical Doctor abandoned the Status Quo.
Dr. David, a physician and competitive indoor rower from the US, faced a common dilemma: how to train for the world-class CRASH-B Sprints without sacrificing his spinal health.
His solution was radical: He stopped using traditional rowing machines entirely. Since investing in his BIOROWER, he hasn’t looked back. ‘My back thanks me immensely,’ he noted before the competition.
After competing in the 2020 CRASH-B, the results were clear: His BIOROWER training translated perfectly to his performance on the race floor. More importantly, the BIOROWER taught him a level of performance awareness that traditional machines couldn’t provide. For David, the BIOROWER isn’t just a simulator—it’s a precision instrument that allowed him to compete at the highest level while staying pain-free.
The Private Sanctuary
More than a Machine—A Life-Long Companion.
For Siri in London, the BIOROWER became more than just fitness equipment during challenging times. It became a cornerstone of her daily routine and a source of well-being. ‘We feel very lucky to have one,’ she says, reflecting a sentiment shared by many of our clients: The BIOROWER is an investment that pays off every single day through the joy of movement and the sanctuary of a professional-grade home gym.
Transatlantic Loyalty | Russ, USA (formerly UK)
An Unsolicited Note on Long-Term Value.
When attorney Russ moved his life from the United Kingdom back to the United States, he faced a choice common among international executives: liquidate his household assets or deal with global shipping logistics.
For his BIOROWER, there was no debate. Having owned the machine since 2019, he chose to relocate it across the Atlantic with him. Years later, he sent an unprompted note directly to our founder Aram:
‘I just wanted to drop you a short note to thank you again for creating the Biorower. It is such a fantastic addition to my life.’
This is the true definition of a lifetime investment. We do not design equipment to sit in a corner; we engineer systems that become so vital to your daily physical and mental performance that you cannot imagine leaving them behind—no matter where your career takes you.
