Objectives: The aim of the study was to test the effect of rowing against a moderately challenging competitor compared to an extremely challenging competitor on performance and motivation. The effect of trait competitiveness was also examined.

Design: Sixty-seven male participants were classified as either low (n = 34) or high in competitiveness (n = 33) and assigned to either a moderate or extreme challenge condition.

Method: Participants initially rowed to set a baseline level of performance. Participants rowed again but were accompanied by an on-screen competitor that was set to a speed higher than the baseline performance to create a moderate (5% higher) or extreme (20% higher) challenge level.

Results: The pattern of performance differed between the challenge conditions. Participants in the extreme challenge condition showed an initial high level of power output and distance rowed, but subsequently showed a steep decline in performance that persisted until the end of the row. In contrast, participants in the moderate challenge condition showed a lower initial level of performance followed by a more gradual decline. Moreover, these participants showed a trend of increasing performance towards the end of the row, whereas participants facing an extremely challenging competitor showed a trend of decreasing performance. Trait competitiveness did not moderate the pattern of results.

Conclusions: The findings show that challenge level should be considered in the design of VR-based exercise programs and in matching competitive interactions among exercisers in virtual environments.