Relationship of Competitive Success to the Physique of Sri Lankan Rowers

Background: The anthropometric profile is considered to be one of the most important determinants of competitive success in any type of sport. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between anthropometric profile with the competitive success in rowing ergometer performance, aerobic fitness & anaerobic fitness in professional rowers in the Sri Lanka Army. Method: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess the anthropometric profile, aerobic fitness, anaerobic fitness and ergometer performance in 32 male and 14 female professional rowers in the Sri Lanka Army in the age range of 20-33 years. Body weight, body height, waist circumference, hip circumference, leg length, arm span, skin fold thickness and arm circumference were measured using a weighing scale, skin fold caliper and measuring tape while the body mass index was calculated. Performance was assessed by the 2000m rowing ergometer test time while aerobic fitness was assessed by the volume of maximum oxygen consumption. The peak power and power average were calculated to measure anaerobic fitness by using the vertical jump test. Result: The mean values for rowing ergometre time for male and female were 7.07 and 8.36 minutes respectively. Rowing ergometre time negatively correlated with body height (p=0.02) lean body mass (p=0.049) and body mass index in male rowers (p= 0.028) and body height (p=0.021), leg length (p=0.008), body mass (p=0.02) and arm span (p=0.025) in female rowers. Aerobic fitness negatively correlated with body weight (p=0.01), arm circumference (p=0.01), skin fold thickness (p=0.01), fat mass (P=0.01) and lean body mass (p=0.049) in male rowers and body mass index (p= 0.02) and fat weight (p=0.049) of female rowers. Anaerobic fitness significantly correlated (negatively) with the 2000m rowing ergometer test time (p= 0.001) and positively with body height (p=0.02), Leg length (p = 0.04) and arm span (p=0.04) of male rowers. Conclusion: This study shows that there is a significant association between the anthropometric profile, performance and aerobic and anaerobic fitness of Sri Lankan rowers. Rowers with a larger stature, longer leg length and arm span, less body fat and greater total muscle mass performed better at rowing ergometer. Rowers with high anaerobic power performed better at rowing ergometer. Higher anaerobic power was observed in rowers who were taller with larger arm span and leg length while rowers with a lower body weight, lesser arm circumference, lower skin folds, lower fat weight, greater total muscle mass possed better aerobic fitness.