Issn Print: 0195-9131
Publication Date: 1996/05/01
PHYSIOLOGICAL PROFILES OF 1994 WORLD CHAMPION HEAVYWEIGHT SWEEP OARSMEN 943
Michael P. Shannon; Michael J. Buono; Mike Spracklen
Excerpt
Although physiological profiles exist on elite oarsmen, data on current World Champions at the peak of training is limited. Members of 1994 World Champion Men's Eight were tested at the peak of their aerobic training cycle for the 1995 World Championships. The mean (±SD) age, height and weight for the group (n=7) was 28 yrs ± 2, 195.8 cm ± 4.0, 94.2 kg± 2.9, respectively. Each oarsman performed a graded exercise test starting at 300 Watts and increasing 25 Watts/min to exhaustion on a Concept II Model C rowing ergometer. Oxygen uptake was measured using a Sensormedics 2900 metabolic cart. Blood lactate was measured two minutes post exercise via a capillary blood sample. The mean (±SD) VO2max in absolute terms and relative to bodyweight were 6.0 L/min ± 0.2, 63.6 ml/kg/min± 2.2, and 289.1 ml/kg2/3/min ± 8.4, respectively. Furthermore, the group had a mean (±SD) VE max, HR max and workload max of 199.8 L/min (BTPS) ± 22.8, 195 bpm ± 10 and 518 Watts ± 18 respectively. The mean (±SD) 2 minute post-exercise blood lactate values were 15.7 mmol/L ± 1.4. These values are very similar to those reported by Mellerowicz and Hansen (1965), Hagerman (1984) and Steinacker (1993). Thus, the current results suggest that the maximal aerobic capacity of elite oarsmen has not changed significantly over the last 30 years. However, international standards for sweep rowing have demonstrated improvement during this period. Therefore, the increases in performance seen during this time are most likely attributed to improvements in rowing technique, advances in equipment technology or to other physiological parameters.
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