Mikulić, P.: ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PROFILES OF ROWERS

This study was aimed at assessing the anthropometric and physiological profiles of elite junior, subelite senior and elite senior rowers and at determining and explaining the differences between these groups. For that purpose, the anthropometric and physiological profiles of 53 Croatian rowing champions and members of Croatia’s national team were assessed. A one-way ANOVA was used to determine the differences between the groups. The results demonstrated that, when assessed against their sub-elite counterparts, the elite seniors were found to be taller (194.0±2.7 cm vs 188.6±5.4 cm) and heavier (97.2±4.4 kg vs 92.9±5.4 kg), with larger length dimensions. The juniors, anthropometrically similar to the sub-elite seniors, were nonetheless lighter (86.1±4.4 kg), with smaller girth dimensions and lower body fat levels. Similarly, the elite juniors were shorter and lighter than the elite seniors, with not only less body fat, but also a smaller girth and length dimensions. Maximal oxygen uptake (5.67±0.27 lmin), power output (350.6±12.4 W), and oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold intensity (4.94±0.27 lmin) were higher in the elite seniors than in the sub-elite seniors (VO2max: 5.13±0.40 lmin ; PAT: 318.8±19.6 W; VO2AT: 4.55±0.33 lmin ) and the juniors (VO2max: 5.37±0.37 lmin ; PAT: 296.9±28.8 W; VO2AT: 4.58±0.23 l·min ). Elite male junior and senior rower profiles may be used for talent identification and selection purposes.