Olympic rowing: Model of competitive activity of international level elite female athletes

Abstract

Introduction: High-performance training should focus on motor capability determinants in competition to make physical preparation effective. Objective: To analyze and draw up an elite model based on competitive activity, to guide the theory and practice of female rowers, using data on the 42 finalists of the 2010-2018 world championships. Methods: Forty-two rowers from 2010-2018 world championships participated in the study, final A, women’s single scull without weight restrictions. The statistical comparison was performed and differences between 500 meter splits analyzed for each variable were discussed. Results: Strong correlation was observed between time (r=-0.99, p<0.01), power (r=0.99, p<0.01), technical level (r=0.99, p<0.01) and speed. In the competitive model, the relationship between speed at 2000 meters and time (r=-0.96, p<0.01), speed (r=0.94, p<0.01) and power (r=0.96, p<0.01) showed a strong correlation with speed in the splits of the third 500 meters of the race. In terms of stroke rate (r=-0.56, p<0.01) and stroke length (r=0.54, p<0.01), the strongest correlation occurs at the start, in the first 100 meters of competition. Conclusion: Having performed these analyses, it is possible to confirm the need to investigate competitive activity in order to supplement the rower’s fitness preparation system. Level of evidence I; Diagnostic studies-Investigating a diagnostic test.