Maximal aerobic power in oarsmen

Summary

Maximal aerobic power ($\dot V_{O_2 }$ max) was determined during running, cycling, or rowing in 14 winners of international championship (European, world or Olympic) regattas in rowing, in 13 less qualified international competitive oarsmen, and in 10 lightweights. Ventilation ($\dot V_E$), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate after maximal exercise were also measured. The winners had a weight of 93 kg, a $\dot V_{O_2 }$ max of 5.89 l×min⁻¹, a $\dot V_E$ of 200 l×min⁻¹, and a HR of 185 beats×min⁻¹, as compared with 84kg, 5.58 l×min⁻¹, 173 l×min⁻¹, and 190 beats×min⁻¹ in the less successful oarsmen, and 72kg, 5.13 l×min⁻¹, and 164 l×min⁻¹ in the lightweights. $\dot V_{O_2 }$ max and $\dot V_E$ were correlated to body weight, while HR and blood lactate were not, the latter showing an average value of 12.5 (SE 0.45) mmol×l⁻¹. If expressed neutral to body dimensions all oarsmen had a $\dot V_{O_2 }$ max of about 293 ml×min⁻¹×kg^−2/3. It is suggested that the large $\dot V_{O_2 }$ max values found in oarsmen mainly reflect their large body dimensions.