The aerobic demands of rowing in two Olympic rowers

The relationship between rowing speed and Vo2 was determined on two Olympic oarsmen while rowing the single, double and coxless pair shells. The speeds covered ranged from 120 to approximately 300 meters/min and resulted in oxygen demands from 1.2 to 6.45 1 O2/min. First order regression equations described the speed/Vo2 relationship for each shell. Rowing at racing speed in either shell required an aerobic expenditure of 5.8-6.0 1 O2/min.