Volume

11

No

122

Rowing Biomechanics Newsletter

GPS boat speed and stroke rate

Last year GPS data on boat speed and stroke rate
became
available
from
FISA
website
www.worldrowing.com. The data for the World Cups
and Championship regattas is presented in 50m splits.
To check the accuracy of the data, we have derived an
average speed over the whole race using GPS data and
compared it with the speed obtained from official results. It was found that the accuracy significantly improved in this year World Cup in Munich: the percentage of correct rankings (GPS based ranking corresponds with official one) data increased up to 60.3%
and average deviation of the GPS speed from the official results decreased down to 1.67%:
N GPS data in FA
Correct ranking
Correct
ranking
(%)
Average
speed
deviation (%)

2010
Cup1
82
22

2010
Cup2
83
29

2010
Cup3
84
24

2010
WCh
84
46

2011
Cup1
78
47

26.8%

34.9%

28.6%

54.8%

60.3%

2.60%

3.74%

1.71%

1.99%

1.67%

The accuracy could be improved even more if GPS

speed would be represented with two or more decimals. There are still some concerns about the accuracy
of GPS stroke rate data, especially in small boats (see
Attachments 1 and 2), where the data in side lanes
looks quite untrustworthy. Therefore, we took for further analysis only the data of the medallists, which
usually go on the middle lanes.
In RBN 2005/02 we already discussed average
stroke rate in medallists of the main World regattas in
2000, 2002 and 2004, which was obtained for three
medallists in every boat type from video footage. To
check the possible effect of different methods of measurement, we took the stroke rate from a video of M8+
and W8+ during Worlds-2010 in Karapiro, compared
it with GPS data and found that the average difference
in stroke rate in three medallists was 0.2 str/min. This
allows us to compare the data obtained using both
methods. The chart below shows the average stroke
rate in 14 Olympic boat types in the winners, medallists and finalists of World regattas (see Appendix 3
for more details):
Stroke Rate (1/min)
38

Winners

Boat
W1x
W2x
LW2x
M1x
W4x
W2M4x
M2x
W8+
LM2x
M2LM4M4M8+

2002

2004

Max
40.9
41.4
41.0
41.2
41.4
41.5
41.8
41.7
41.5
42.3
42.8
43.1
43.0
42.5

Range
9.5
9.1
8.5
9.1
9.0
7.4
7.3
7.1
6.3
7.3
7.0
7.8
6.9
6.2

0%

Finalists

-20%

The average stroke rate decreased by about one

stroke per minute during the last decade: it was
around 38 str/min in 2000-2002 and around 37 str/min
in Worlds Championship-2010 and World Cup-2010 in

Min
31.4
32.3
32.5
32.1
32.5
34.2
34.5
34.5
35.2
35.0
35.8
35.3
36.1
36.3

10%

-10%

2010-3
2011-1
2010WC

SD
2.4
2.4
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.0
2.2
2.1
1.8
2.1
2.0
2.4
2.1
1.9

Available GPS data allows to derive information

about relative effective work per stroke (eWPS), using
our method proposed in RBN 2005/10. As an illustration, we show below a chart of eWPS in M4x race during the Worlds-2010 in Karapiro.
eWPS (%)
M4x
20%

Medalists

2010-1
2010-2

Average
34.6
34.8
35.1
35.3
35.7
36.2
36.7
36.9
37.2
37.4
38.0
38.2
38.3
38.4

Womens sculling boats use the lowest average stroke

rate 34-35 str/min and mens sweep boats use the highest
stroke rate 38-39 str/min. The larger the boat, the lower
variation (SD) and the range of the stroke rate during the
race: in the singles, differences between minimal and maximal stroke rates were more than 9 str/min, but in the eights
they were only about 6 str/min. Rowers in all boat types
could produce quite a similar maximal stroke rate 41-42
str/min at the start and spurts, but the cruising stroke rate
(minimal) was significantly lower in small boats: around 32
str/min, compared to 35-36 str/min in the big boats.

ITA
GER
RUS
0

2000

2011

Lucerne. In other World Cups the stroke rate was 0.5-1

str/min lower. No significant difference in stroke rate
between various place takers was found.
To analyse the stroke rate in various boat types and
its variation during the race, we took the data of three
medallists during the last five World regattas of 201011 and derived an average stroke rate over the whole
race, its standard deviation (SD) based on 20 50m
splits, minimal and maximal values and their difference (range). In the following table the data is ranked
based on average stroke rate:

37
36

May

500

AUS
CRO
GBR
1000

1500

2000

The winners CRO had the most consistent eWPS,

i.e. efforts distribution, during the race (SD=8.6%)
compared to the last place RUS (SD=20.4%), which
applied too high efforts during the first half (high
speed at low rate) and couldnt maintain it at finish.
2011: Dr. Valery Kleshnev,www.biorow.com

Appendix 1 to Rowing Biomechanics Newsletter 122 (2011 May)

Graphical presentation of GPS stroke rate data during World Championship 2010 in Karapiro
Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

SLO
GBR
CZE

M1x

42
40

NOR
NZL
CHN

40
38

36

36

34

34

32

32

30

30

28

28
500

1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44
42

2000

M2x

FRA
GBR

40

1500

NZL
SWE
0

CZE
SRB
500

42

NZL
NOR

38

36

36

34

34

32

32

30

30

28

1500

2000

W 2x

CZE
POL

40

38

BLR
RUS
1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44
AUS
GER

W 1x

42

38

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

USA
AUS

GBR
GER

28
0

500

1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

1500

2000

M4x

ITA
CRO

AUS
RUS

GER
GBR

38
36
34
32
30
28
0

500

Stroke Rate (1/min)

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

1000

1500

2000

LM2x

500

Stroke Rate (1/min)

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

42
40

GER
GBR
0

500

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44
42

1000

2000

1500

2000

W 4x

USA
AUS

UKR
NZL

1000

LW 2x
GER
CAN

40

1500

AUS
GRE

GBR
NZL

38
36
34
32
CAN
GBR
0

500

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

ITA
NZL

CHN
POR

1000

30
28
1500

2000

M2-

42

40

40

38

38

36

36

34

34

32

ITA
GRE

30

GER
GBR

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

42

32

NZL
FRA

AUS
NZL

30

28

500

1000

1500

2000

W2-

GER
GBR

USA
CAN

28
0

500

1000

1500

2000

500

1000

1500

2000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

FRA
GBR
0

M4-

GRE
USA

500

Stroke Rate (1/min)

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

NZL
ITA

1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

1500

2000

M8+

ITA
GBR
0

LM4-

GER
NED

500

1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

CHN
AUS
1500

2000

W 8+

42
40
38
36
34
NZL
GER

USA
AUS

32

GBR
NED

CHN
USA

30

GBR
ROU

CAN
NED

28
0

500

1000

1500

2000

500

1000

1500

2000

Appendix 2 to Rowing Biomechanics Newsletter 122 (2011 May)

Graphical presentation of GPS stroke rate data during World Cup-1 2011 in Munich
Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

M1x

42
40

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

SWE
GER

LTU
GBR1

CZE
SLO1

CZE2
BLR

42
40

38

38

36

36

34

34

32

32

30

30

28

W 1x
CHN
SWE

CZE1
GER

28
0

500

1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

1500

2000

M2x

42

40

40

38

38

36

36

34

34

32

LTU2
GER2

30

GER1
EST1

1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

42

500

1500

2000

W 2x

ROU
BLR1

IRL
USA

GBR
AUT

32

GBR1
USA

30

28

28
0

500

1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

1500

2000

M4x

500

1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

1500

2000

W 4x

42
POL
UKR1

GBR
CRO

GER
FRA

SUI
UKR1

40
38

POL
GER1

GBR
ITA

36
34
32
30
28
0

500

1000

1500

2000

500

1000

1500

2000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

LM2x

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

42

42

40

40

38

38

36

36

34

LW 2x
GRE
GBR1

NED
USA

GBR2
DEN

34
GER
GBR

32
30

DEN1
ITA1

FRA
USA

32
30

28

28
0

500

Stroke Rate (1/min)

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

1000

1500

2000

M2-

500

1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

44

1500

2000

W2-

42
40
38
36
34
NED1
ITA

GRE
HUN

32

GBR
GER

ROU2
GBR

30

NED2
USA2

USA1
NED1

28
0

500

Stroke Rate (1/min)

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

ITA
GRE
0

500

1000

1500

M4-

BLR
GER
1000

2000

1000

500

NED
FRA

1000

Stroke Rate (1/min)

500

2000

DEN1
GBR1

1500

2000

W 8+

POL
ROU

1500

LM4-

ITA
SUI

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

M8+ data was missing

500

Stroke Rate (1/min)

46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28

GBR
FRA
1500

2000

CHN
UKR

1000

GBR
NED

1500

2000

Appendix 3 to Rowing Biomechanics Newsletter 122 (2011 May)

Stroke Rate in various boat classes during 2000-2011 period. Description of the regattas:
2000 Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney
2002 World Championship 2002 in Seville
2004 - Olympic Games 2004 in Athens
2010-1 World Cup 1 in 2010 in Bled, Slovenia
2010-2 World Cup 2 in 2010 in Munich
2010-3 World Cup 3 in 2010 in Lucerne
2010W World Championship 2010 in Karapiro, New Zealand
2011-1 World Cup 1 in 2011 in Munich
Winners
LM2x
LM4LW2x
M1x
M2M2x
M4M4x
M8+
W1x
W2W2x
W4x
W8+
Average

2000
37.2
42.0
36.6
35.6
41.0
37.7
39.2
41.0
41.1
33.7
41.0
34.3
36.2
39.4
38.3

2002
39.7
40.9
35.5
36.1
39.4
36.3
40.6
40.5
40.1
33.1
37.9
34.9
37.3
40.7
38.1

2004
36.8
41.0
35.0
37.4
39.1
38.2
39.9
36.5
38.4
34.6
36.4
34.1
36.2
38.7
37.3

2010-1
37.0
39.3
35.9
35.3
37.9
36.3
38.4
37.2
37.5
31.7
36.1
34.1
35.5
37.4
36.4

2010-2
36.9
37.9
35.5
34.7
37.4
36.6
38.1
37.3
37.7
33.6
37.1
35.3
32.6
35.4
36.1

2010-3
38.2
37.8
34.6
35.4
38.4
36.2
37.6
37.8
39.0
33.4
38.6
35.5
36.3
36.6
36.8

2010W
41.5
37.6
34.4
35.5
38.5
38.2
37.9
36.0
39.2
34.4
37.8
34.1
36.3
37.9
37.1

2011-1
36.4
39.4
36.9
37.6
37.3
38.0
38.0
35.7
37.7
34.0
34.9
34.8
34.4
37.4
36.6

Average
38.0
38.4
35.5
35.7
37.9
37.1
38.0
36.8
38.2
33.4
36.9
34.7
35.0
36.9
36.6

The data marked in red was missing and inserted from the same boat type in similar regatta to maintain the average.

Medalists
LM2x
LM4LW2x
M1x
M2M2x
M4M4x
M8+
W1x
W2W2x
W4x
W8+
Average

2000
38.9
40.5
36.8
35.9
38.8
38.0
40.1
40.2
40.7
33.5
38.4
35.8
36.2
39.3
38.1

2002
38.6
40.8
35.7
36.4
38.6
38.3
41.7
40.3
40.4
33.9
36.2
35.7
38.4
39.7
38.2

2004
38.9
40.4
35.9
36.7
39.1
38.3
39.8
37.4
38.8
35.0
37.6
36.3
37.5
38.2
37.9

2010-1
37.1
38.7
35.7
35.1
38.1
36.1
38.0
36.5
38.1
34.2
36.0
34.1
34.9
36.6
36.4

2010-2
37.0
38.5
34.0
34.6
38.2
36.4
38.4
37.0
38.0
33.6
35.9
35.0
34.8
36.2
36.3

2010-3
37.6
39.0
35.5
36.1
38.2
36.9
38.9
37.7
39.0
33.1
37.0
35.7
35.6
37.8
37.0

2010W
38.3
37.2
34.0
35.8
37.8
37.4
37.5
35.9
39.1
36.8
36.4
34.3
37.5
37.8
36.8

2011-1
36.9
37.3
36.3
35.0
37.5
37.6
38.8
36.3
38.0
35.2
35.6
34.9
35.5
37.5
36.6

Average
37.4
38.2
35.1
35.3
38.0
36.9
38.3
36.7
38.4
34.6
36.2
34.8
35.7
37.2
36.6