Joe Rantz (Callum Turner) is studying engineering at the University of Washington, but his money has run out and he has no money for tuition, rent or even for food. When a friend tells him the university's junior rowing team is looking for recruits and that they'll be housed, fed and paid, he tries out.

After a number of physical tests and training, Joe is chosen by Coach Ulbrickson (Joel Edgerton) to be part of the crew. Although the rowing team hasn't won in years, they go from being underdogs at the height of the Great Depression to competing against the elite at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.