Am I tall enough to be a successful rower at a higher level?

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I am a freshman in college and just started rowing. I have a 6:41 erg time for my second 2k and I am 190-195 lbs at 185 cm (6'1). If I continue working on technique, conditioning and rowing in general, do you think I can become a successful rower at a higher level? Do you think I am not tall enough? I know rowers like Rob Waddell and Matthew Pinsent are like 6'7 and 6'5 and it makes me think that I am not tall enough.

ANSWER: Hi LC: I don't think your height is a limiting factor for your rowing success.  Things like erg scores, on-water success and your ability to compete with and against elite rowers are much bigger determinants.  I'd say if you were 5'-9", you might have a limitation, but 6'-1" is a fine height.  It might place you in the bow or 2-seat of an elite-level crew, but you're still in the elite-level boat.

My recommendation to you is just to row as well as you can this spring, consider a summer rowing program and see where you stand a year from now.

Good Luck/AP

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QUESTION: Hi AP- On second thought, I may be 183 cm, which is about 6'0 feet tall. Is that still a fine height for a rower at an elite level?

ANSWER: Hi LC: I once remember when I was in the Navy, an Admiral was briefing how one Rear Admiral position would go to an officer with a unique qualification.  A young lietenant claimed that wasn't fair because that would take a spot that would be filled by someone like himself.  The Admiral looked at him, smiled, and said, "You should  worry more about making Lieutenant Commander."

At 6'-0", maybe, just maybe, it might be a tad too short for you to row in the U.S. Olympic Eight.  That leaves 99.99% of the elite programs that you could compete in.  Of course, you can make the Men's Olympic team as a single sculler.  When I first joined crew, I dreamed of stardom and all that.  But when I saw how vast the ability gap was between me and the best rowers, I simply just wanted to belong and worked hard to close the gap.  Now with your physical potential, you can go a lot farther than I did.  But it is simply unrealistic to assess how far you will go until you get at least 10 races under your belt. So just focus on training as hard as you can (without burning yourself out), absorbing and learning as much as you can about rowing this spring and you will know just where you stand.  

Again, the great rowers (and those who strive to be great) all compete in the summer after the college season ends at a rowing club.    

Hope That Helps/AP

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QUESTION: I understand completely. I just want to know if I'm physically constructed to have the potential to row well. I just don't want my height to be a limitation. Also, one more question. I quote, "That leaves 99.99% of the elite programs that you could compete in." What do you mean by that? Does it mean that, even though, I might not be tall enough for the U.S. olympic eight, I still have chances to row with other elites, such as compete in the Oxford- Cambridge boat race, or hypothetically row in an eight for Cal or Harvard? Also, if it's alright, may I ask how tall you were in your prime, when you rowed, and who did you row for? I noticed that you said "...with your physical potential, you can go a lot farther than I did."

Thanks so much, Al. This is really helping.

Answer
Hello Again: I attached a link to a good article that will answer your questions:

http://home.hia.no/~stephens/rowphys.htm

In addition to physical height and weight, I was once in a study where two big factors to being a top-flight rower was your ability to take in oxygen (called VO2 Max) and your ability to withstand excess lactic acid buildup, which is what causes your muscles to experience the burning pain you feel when you have rowed a hard piece.  You might want to ask your coach if there is a college with a sports physiologist that could take your readings.

Yes to the second question about what crews you can compete with.  However, I still think your question is a bit naive.  It's like a coach telling the parent of a 7-year old tee-ball player, "He's going to play First base for the New York Mets."  Get your races in first and see where you stand.  I knew a rower who had decent ability but crabbed in his first race and never rowed again.

As for me, I competed most of my career as an undersized oarman.  I rowed for Temple U. and a club out of Philadelphia.  I also sculled and raced in singles.  I was 5'-11" and weighed in the 145-155 range most of my youth.  I was a great runner and pound-for-pound could out-bench anyone on my crew.  But I tested low for both VO2 Max and Lactic Acid buildup, thus was physically limited on ever being a champion rower.  My best 2K was only about 7:20.  At my peak, I competed in the finals of the Men's National Championships in the Intermediate Eights class; we finished 5th.  As I said earlier, I had no illusions that I was going to be little more than an average rower at best, but the experiences I had and the friends I met through the sport I would not trade.

Regards/AP