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

• Published in: Journal of sports sciences Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 43 - 53
• Main Authors: Kerr, D. A., Ross, W. D., Norton, K., Hume, P., Kagawa, M., Ackland, T. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Routledge 01.01.2007; Taylor and Francis
• Subjects: Adult; Anthropometry; Biological and medical sciences; body composition; Body Composition - physiology; Body Size - physiology; Case-Control Studies; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Olympic rowers; proportionality; Skinfold Thickness; Somatotypes - physiology; Sports - physiology; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Human; proportionality; Olympic rowers; Sport; Anthropometry; Body composition
• ISSN: 0264-0414; 1466-447X
• DOI: 10.1080/02640410600812179

Rowers 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.