Change of female double scull rowers’ physical and functional capacity in their preparation for 2016 Olympic Games

Abstract

The purpose of the work was to carry out investigation on peculiarities of Lithuanian elite female double scull rowers’ physical and functional capacity during yearly training cycle, preparing for the Olympic Games. Methods: Two female double scull rowers aged 22 (I) and 27 (II) were investigated. During yearly training cycle, the rowers participated in four expanded researches. The first testing (I) was carried out at the beginning of preparatory period (November), the second (II) and the third (III) – in the middle of preparatory period (February and April), and the fourth (IV) – during the competitive period (June). Rowers’ body development, anaerobic alactic muscle power and aerobic power were investigated. Results: Absolute and average 10 sec working power during yearly training cycle used to increase, reaching their peaks during competitive period. Maximum power increase for the first rower was from 596 to 645 W and from 482 to 615 W for the second. Mean anaerobic alactic power of the rowers increased respectively from 483 to 530 W and from 372 to 486 W. Power of the rowers’ performed wok at the limit of lactic anaerobic threshold used to increase during yearly training cycle – from 235 to 248 W for the first athlete, and from 205 to 235 W for the second. During yearly training cycle, VO2max at the critical intensity limit for the first rower increased from 52.2 to 60.3 ml/kg/min and from 53.5 to 59.0 ml/kg/min. Conclusions: Maximum and mean absolute and relative anaerobic alactic muscle power of our investigated athletes had a tendency to increase during yearly training cycle, from the beginning of preparatory period till competitive period. The training loads applied during yearly cycle were of positive impact on the change of aerobic power indices at the critical intensity and anaerobic threshold limits. Training of Lithuanian female double skull rowers proved to have been well organized. [...]