Body-build of lightweight rowers

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Jarek MäestuSports Scientist (PhD),

Ex rower and rowing coach,Rowing Academy Scientist

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BODY-BUILD OF LIGHTWEIGHT ROWERS

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Body-build of lightweight rowers

In lightweight rowing, the maximal body mass may reach 72.5 kg and 59 kg and the average of a crew 70.0 kg and 57 kg in male and female rowers, respectively.

Although lightweight rowers can be considered as “small” heavyweight rowers, in reality their respective sports are two different disciplines. Lightweight rowers rely on their ideal body composition and perfect technique, while heavyweights on the other hand are characterized more by their general strength capabilities.

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It is of advantage for a rower to be tall with long arms that give the extra leverage. Ideally the body mass of rowers should contain a high proportion of muscle mass, which however, is somewhat complicated in lightweights due to the weight limit. Therefore ideal body composition is very important for lightweights. Successful lightweights can reduce their body fat by 2-5% without any changes in fat-free mass. However, if initial body fat values are low, muscle mass decrease occurs.

Height Weight BMI Body fat %

Source

USA Olympic team (n=12) 183.0±3.0 72.2±1.4 21.5±2.1 - Hagerman et al (1983)

Participants of world championships 2003 (n=144)

180.7±3.9 71.2±1.1 5.2±0.7 Slater et al (2005)

Australian lightweights (n=18)

180.5±2.7 69.8±1.6 21.5±2.1 7.8±0.8 Morris et al (1996)

Danish lightweights(n=68)

183.0±4.5 74.5±3.0 22.5±3.8 11.1±1.9 Jensen (1994)

Table 1. Comparison of main anthropometrical parameters of lightweight rowers

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Physique traits of lightweight rowers have remained quite stable for the past two decades (Figure 1), indicating that the weight limits have a big impact on the body composition of lightweight rowers and they can not focus on building muscle mass. This was also indicated in a study of Mäestu et al. (2000), where 2000 m ergometer performance of lightweight rowers was mainly characterized (99,2%) by metabolic parameters (anaerobic threshold and maximal oxygen consumption).

Although not precisely comparable with the previously mentioned results, heavyweight rowers’ performance was characterized by 61.5% using muscle mass and anaerobic threshold parameters.

Figure 1. Somatotype of male lightweight rowers from 1985 to 2005. Read more about somatotypes.

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Conclusions

A successful lightweight rower has to be relatively tall (approximately 180-185 cm and 170-175 cm for males and females, respectively). Obtaining high proportion of muscle mass means minimizing the body fat mass, contrary to heavyweights where body fat mass is not monitored that strictly.

The performance of a lightweight rower depends more on the physiological parameters compared to anthropometrical parameters.

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References

• Hagerman F., Staron R. Seasonal variables among physiological variables in elite oarsmen. Can J Appl Sports Sci, 1983, 8: 143 – 148.

• Jensen K. Test procedures for rowing. FISA Coach, 1994, 4: 1 – 6.• Morris F., Payne W. Seasonal variables in the body composition of lightweight rowers.

Br J Sports Med, 1996, 30: 301 – 304.• Mäestu J., Jürimäe J., Jürimäe T. Prediction of rowing performance from selected

physiological variables. Differences between lightweight and open class rowers. Medicina Dello Sport, 2000, 53: 247-254.

• Slater GJ, Rice AJ, Mujika I, Hahn AG, Sharpe K, Jenkins DG. Physique traits of lightweight rowers and their relationship to competitive success. Br J Sports Med, 2005, 39: 736-741.

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