Volume 11 No 125

Rowing Biomechanics Newsletter

News

The latest World rowing championship 2011 in

Bled, Slovenia was the fifth fastest after Eton-2006,
Seville-2002, Poznan-2009 and Indianapolis-1994:
Average boat speed (m/s)

Fig.1

5.3
5.2

best three countries (Great Britain, New Zealand and

Australia) won 20 out of 42 medals in Olympic events
(47.6%), while this year these three Commonwealth
nations managed to win 23 medals (54.8%). Obviously, this success is attributed to their effective national team systems and massive commitments to rowing science.
Table 2

Finalists

Year

4.8
1996

2000

2004

2008

2012

The trend lines of speeds of both winners and finalists in Olympic events go nearly parallel and show a
long-term growth of performance about 0.2% per
year.

The four-day format of the final races in Bled

and changing weather conditions make it difficult to
compare the boat speed in various events. The fastest
speeds were shown during the first three days of finals
A. One more time we must notice exceptionally fast
speed of New Zealand mens pair.
Table 1
N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Boat
M2W2W2x
M1x
M4x
M2x
LM4W4x
W8+
LW2x
M8+
W1x
M4LM2x

Day
3
1
3
3
3
2
2
1
2
4
1
4
4
4

G.St
06:14.3
06:52.9
06:39.5
06:32.5
05:33.2
06:02.1
05:46.2
06:08.5
05:53.1
06:47.0
05:18.6
07:11.5
05:41.0
06:07.2

Winner
6:14.77
6:58.16
6:44.73
6:39.56
5:39.31
6:10.76
5:55.10
6:18.37
6:03.65
6:59.80
5:28.81
7:26.64
5:55.18
6:18.67

%%
99.87%
98.74%
98.71%
98.23%
98.20%
97.66%
97.49%
97.39%
97.10%
96.95%
96.89%
96.61%
96.01%
94.79%

Av.Rate
39.4
39.7
36.6
35.4
38.1
37.4
38.9
35.4
37.4
36.1
38.7
32.3
38.0
38.9

Accuracy of GPS speed data was higher than

before (RBN 2011/05): the deviation of the average
speed based on GPS from the official results was
1.18% on average and correct ranking was observed in
43 cases out of 84 finalists in Olympic events (51.2%).
The average stoke rate based on GPS was 37.3
str/min for winners, 37.2 for medallists and 36.9 for
finalists in Olympic events, which is 0.3-0.5 str/min
higher than in Worlds-2010 in Karapiro. This difference could be related to the possibility of higher boat
speed because of better weather conditions. It is interesting that the highest average stroke rate over the race
was found in W2- NZL 39.7 str/min (Table 1).

The margin between the worlds leading

rowing nations and the rest of the rowing world is
increasing. During the 2010 Worlds in Karapiro the

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

1
3
4
2
2

1
1
1

2
3
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1

3
4
3
2

3
2

1
1
1

1
2

6
1
1
2
1

7
2
1
1
1
1

2
1
1
1
1

1
3
1
1

1
2
1
1
2
2
1

2
1
2

1
1
2

Licenses

4.9

Country
GBR
NZL
AUS
GER
CAN
ITA
USA
GRE
CZE
BLR
FRA
CRO
CHN
POL
UKR
NED
ROU
DEN
SWE
RUS

Points

N
Winners

Medals

5.0

Entries

Number of places

5.1

1992

August 2011

14
12
11
14
10
9
14
4
10
5
9
4
14
10
6
6
5
6
4
5

10
8
5
4
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

66
55
48
44
21
19
22
18
16
6
6
5
20
11
8
7
7
6
6
3

13
11
10
11
7
6
8
4
4
2
3
1
8
4
4
4
2
3
2
2

When analysing race strategies, on average

winners in Olympic events have shown relatively
slower speed over the first 500m than all other finalists:
Speed deviation from average(%)

Fig.2

3%
2%
1%
0%

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th
3

-1%
500 m section
-2%

This trend is opposite to what was found in previous World regattas (RBN 2001/05, 2002/10, 2008/09),
where the winners were usually faster during the fist
500m. The main contributors to this phenomenon in
Bled are four winners: Mirka Knapkova in W1x CZE
(-4.1% in the first 500m), W8+ USA (-0.5%), LM4AUS (-0.3%) and M4- GBR (-0.2%). This fact is still
significant even if we reject W1x split times as an error. Future competitions will show us if this phenomenon is an occasional coincidence or a new trend of
leading crews.
2011: Dr. Valery Kleshnev www.biorow.com

Appendix 1 to the Rowing Biomechanics Newsletter 2011/08

Based on GPS data: Boat speed, stroke rate and relative Effective Work per Stroke in the finals A of Rowing World Championships in Bled, Slovenia
Boat Speed (m/s)

5.0
4.8

W 1x
GER
CZE

Stroke Rate (1/min) W 1x

42
NZL
BLR

CHN
SWE

40

GER
CZE

38

4.6

36

4.4

34

eWPS (%, smoothed)

30%
NZL
BLR

CHN
SWE

W1x

20%
10%
0%
-10%

32
4.2

-20%

30

4.0

28
0

500

Boat Speed (m/s)

5.6

1000

1500

2000

M1x

-30%
0

42

5.2

40

5.0

38

4.8

36

4.6

500

1000

1500

2000

Stroke Rate (1/min) M1x

44

5.4

SWE
GBR

SWE
GBR

4.2

NOR
CZE

NOR
CZE

NZL
GER

Boat Speed (m/s)

5.4

1000

1500

2000

W 2-

40

-20%

Stroke Rate (1/min)

1000

1500

2000

W 2-

1500

1500

eWPS (%, smoothed)

2000

W 2-

10%
0%
-10%
RSA
NZL

30

AUS
CHN

GBR
ROU

1000

1500

-20%

28
1000

1000

32

GBR
ROU

4.0
500

500

NOR
GBR
GER

20%

34

0
30%

36

4.6

SWE
NZL
CZE

-30%
500

38

4.8

4.2

M1x

-10%

44

5.0

AUS
CHN

eWPS (%, smoothed)

2000

0%

42

RSA
NZL

1500

10%

30

5.2

4.4

1000

20%

28
500

500

NZL
CZE
SWE

32

NZL
GER

4.0
0

0
30%

34

4.4

GER
CHN
BLR

2000

RSA
GBR
CHN

-30%
0

500

2000

500

1000

AUS
NZL
ROU
1500

2000

Boat Speed (m/s)

6.0

M2-

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

M2-

5.5

eWPS (%, smoothed)

30%

42

M2-

20%

40
10%

38
5.0

0%

36
34

4.5

GRE
GBR

ITA
CAN

-10%

32

NZL
GER

GRE
GBR

30

4.0

ITA
CAN

NZL
GER

1000

1500

-20%

28
0

500

Boat Speed (m/s)

5.6

1000

1500

2000

W 2x

-30%
0

42

5.2

40

5.0

38

4.8

36

4.6

500

2000

Stroke Rate (1/min) W 2x

44

5.4

CZE
GBR

4.2

NZL
UKR

Boat Speed (m/s)

5.8
5.6
5.4
5.2
5.0
4.8
4.6
4.4
4.2
4.0

1000

1500

1000

1500

eWPS (%, smoothed)

2000

W2x

20%
10%
0%
-10%
CZE
GBR

30

NZL
UKR

AUS
POL

1000

1500

-20%

28
500

500

ITA
GBR
GER

32

AUS
POL

4.0
0

0
30%

34

4.4

GRE
NZL
CAN

2000

M2x

CZE
AUS
UKR

-30%
0

500

2000

Stroke Rate (1/min) M2x

44

1000

1500

eWPS (%, smoothed)

30%

42

500

NZL
GBR
POL
2000

M2x

20%

40
10%

38

0%

36
34
AUS
GER

GBR
SLO

-10%

32

NZL
FRA

AUS
GER

30

GBR
SLO

NZL
FRA

1000

1500

-20%

28
0

500

1000

1500

2000

AUS
NZL
SLO

-30%
0

500

2000

500

1000

GBR
GER
FRA
1500

2000

Boat Speed (m/s)

7.0

M4-

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

M4-

6.5

eWPS (%, smoothed)

30%

42

NED
GRE
AUS

20%

40
6.0

10%

38
34

5.0
NED
GBR

4.5

USA
AUS

-10%

32

GRE
GER

NED
GBR

30

4.0

USA
AUS

GRE
GER

1000

1500

-20%

28
0

500

1000

Boat Speed (m/s)

6.5

1500

LW2x

-30%
0

2000

500

2000

Stroke Rate (1/min) LW2x

44

500

GBR
GRE
CAN

20%

40
GBR
AUS

NZL
CAN

GRE
USA

10%

38

1500

2000

LW 2x
NZL
AUS
USA

0%

36
5.0

1000

eWPS (%, smoothed)

30%

42

6.0
5.5

USA
GBR
GER

0%

36

5.5

M4-

34

-10%

32

4.5

GBR
AUS

30

4.0

NZL
CAN

GRE
USA

1000

1500

-20%

28
0

500

1000

Boat Speed (m/s)

5.6

1500

2000

LM2x

42

5.2

40

5.0

38

4.8

36

4.6

34

ITA
NZL

GER
DEN

GBR
CHN

500

2000

Stroke Rate (1/min) LM2x

44

5.4

4.4

-30%
0

4.0
1500

ITA
GBR
DEN

10%

1500

2000

LM2x
GER
NZL
CHN

0%
-10%
ITA
NZL

GER
DEN

GBR
CHN

1000

1500

-20%

28
1000

1000

eWPS (%, smoothed)

30%
20%

30
500

500

32

4.2
0

2000

-30%
0

500

2000

500

1000

1500

2000

Boat Speed (m/s)

6.5

LM4-

6.0
5.5
5.0

DEN
GBR

4.5

AUS
SUI

ITA
CHN

4.0
0

500

1000

Boat Speed (m/s)

5.8
5.6
5.4
5.2
5.0
4.8
4.6
4.4
4.2
4.0

1500

Stroke Rate (1/min) LM4-

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28
2000

W 4x

eWPS (%, smoothed)

30%

DEN
ITA
SUI

20%
10%

LM4AUS
GBR
CHN

0%
DEN
GBR

AUS
SUI

-10%

ITA
CHN

-20%
-30%

500

1000

1500

Stroke Rate (1/min) W 4x

42

2000

CHN
GER
AUS

20%

38

1000

1500

eWPS (%, smoothed)

30%

40

500

10%

2000

W4x
USA
NZL
UKR

36
0%
34
CHN
NZL

USA
AUS

GER
UKR

32

CHN
NZL

30

USA
AUS

-10%

GER
UKR

-20%

28
0

500

1000

Boat Speed (m/s)

6.5

1500

2000

M4x

-30%
0

1000

1500

2000

Stroke Rate (1/min) M4x

44

6.0

500

42

30%

40

20%

ITA
GER

4.5

AUS
RUS

ITA
GER

32
30

4.0
500

1000

1500

2000

2000

M4x

AUS
RUS

-10%

CRO
POL

ITA
CRO
RUS

-20%

28
0

1500

0%

34

CRO
POL

1000

10%

36
5.0

500

eWPS (%, smoothed)

40%

38

5.5

-30%
0

500

1000

1500

2000

500

AUS
GER
POL
1000

1500

2000

Boat Speed (m/s)

6.5

W 8+

6.0
5.5
5.0

CHN
USA

4.5

ROU
GBR

CAN
NED

4.0
0

500

1000

Boat Speed (m/s)

7.0

1500

2000

M8+

6.0
5.5
AUS
GBR

CAN
NED

10%
0%
CHN
USA

ROU
GBR

-10%

CAN
NED

500

1000

1500

42

40%

40

30%

38

20%

36

10%

500

1000

1500

2000

500

ROU
USA
NED
1000

1500

eWPS (%, smoothed)

50%

2000

M8+

AUS
GER
NED

CAN
GBR
POL

0%
AUS
GBR

CAN
NED

GER
POL

-10%
-20%

28
0

2000

Stroke Rate (1/min) M8+

30

4.0

CHN
CAN
GBR

-20%
-30%

32

4.5

W 8+

20%

34

GER
POL

eWPS (%, smoothed)

40%
30%

44

6.5

5.0

Stroke Rate (1/min) W 8+

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

-30%
0

500

1000

1500

2000

500

1000

1500

2000