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Olympic lightweight and open-class rowers possess distinctive physical and proportionality characteristics

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dc.contributor.authorKerr, D.
dc.contributor.authorRoss, W.
dc.contributor.authorNorton, K.I.
dc.contributor.authorHume, P.
dc.contributor.authorKagawa, M.
dc.contributor.authorAckland, T.
dc.date.issued2007
dc.description.abstractRowers competing at the 2000 Olympic Games were measured for 38 anthropometric dimensions. The aim was to identify common physical characteristics that could provide a competitive advantage. The participants included 140 male open-class rowers, 69 female open-class rowers, 50 male lightweight rowers, and 14 female lightweight rowers. Body mass, stature, and sitting height were different (P < 0.01) between the open-class and lightweight rowers, as well as a comparison group of healthy young adults ("non-rowers", 42 males, 71 females), for both sexes. After scaling for stature, the open-class rowers remained proportionally heavier than the non-rowers, with greater proportional chest, waist, and thigh dimensions (P < 0.01). Rowers across all categories possessed a proportionally smaller hip girth than the non-rowers (P < 0.01), which suggested the equipment places some constraints on this dimension. Top-ranked male open-class rowers were significantly taller and heavier and had a greater sitting height (P < 0.01) than their lower-ranked counterparts. They were also more muscular in the upper body, as indicated by a larger relaxed arm girth and forearm girth (P < 0.01). For the male lightweight rowers, only proportional thigh length was greater in the best competitors (P < 0.01). In the female open-class rowers, skinfold thicknesses were lower in the more highly placed competitors (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the rowers in this sample demonstrated distinctive physical characteristics that distinguish them from non-rowers and other sports performers.
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Sports Sciences, 2007; 25(1):43-53
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/02640410600812179
dc.identifier.issn0264-0414
dc.identifier.issn1466-447X
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1959.8/121758
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherRoutledge
dc.rightsCopyright 2007 Taylor & Francis
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/02640410600812179
dc.subjectanthropometry
dc.subjectbody composition
dc.subjectOlympic rowers
dc.subjectproportionality
dc.titleOlympic lightweight and open-class rowers possess distinctive physical and proportionality characteristics
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.mmsid9915911400101831

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