Fits and Starts
By Volker Nolte, Photography by Peter Spurrier
Carl Meyer, a member of New Zealand’s 2007 world champion men’s four,
did it. Bryan Volpenhein, stroke of the U.S. Olympic gold medal eight in
Athens, did it several times. So did legendary German sculler Peter
Michael Kolbe and Great Britain’s Sir Steven Redgrave.
The list of superstar rowers who have mounted successful comebacks
after temporarily stepping away from the sport is indeed long. They do
it for a variety of reasons: to recapture past glories or erase a
disappointing experience. Or, in the case of Carl Meyer, who took a
sabbatical from sport to complete his studies, a return may have always
been part of the plan. (Redgrave famously suggested that people, “shoot
me, if you see me close to a racing shell again” between his fourth and
fifth Olympic gold medals, suggesting that even the best-laid plans can
go out the window with the proper perspective.) The question is whether
such fits and starts are good for a rower’s long-term development.
There are always good reasons to take a break, but there are right and
wrong ways of doing so. There could be unfinished business outside of
rowing demanding an athlete’s attention, be it personal or professional.
Athletes also have health-related reasons for taking leave. After all,
high-volume training exacts a huge physical and mental toll. Especially
in the case of injury, it makes good sense to step away from the rigors
of training to give the body a chance to heal. Regardless of the reason
for leaving, though, athletes need to be realistic about their prospects
of a successful return—many mistakenly believe they can come back at
any time and be successful.
The road back is never easy, which is why it’s important that athletes
who do step away stay in touch with serious training, even if it’s in
another sport. Maximum strength is the first thing to go, but maximum
oxygen uptake and aerobic capacity also decrease over time if not
stimulated. What’s more, they are lost much faster than the time it
takes to build them back up. It’s no wonder then, that athletes who
attempt to come back after a break often get discouraged by their
initial performance. Even those who do keep up with consistent training
may find that it takes several months in a rowing environment before
their specific rowing performance is where it should be.
It’s also important to factor in the mental side of the equation.
Athletes who have endured long and intensive periods of training will
understandably want to take a mental break. It’s only natural that
athletes whose lives revolve around training and recovery would seek
freer reign over their time and experiences in a different social
environment. They could continue to row, but do so outside of the
specific program.
Whether it’s to give their mind or body a break, coaches are
well-served in letting their athletes step away for a spell. It’s wise
to give anyone whose motivation or interest is waning the chance to
pursue different goals outside of rowing. If the fire in the belly is
still there, they will eventually come back, perhaps in a stronger role.
Taking a break can actually increase the time an athlete stays in the
sport. We know that it takes 10 years for an athlete to reach the top.
Because of the investment in time and money involved, it’s critical that
high performers stick around as long as possible. Strategic breaks can
be an effective way to achieve this.
Back when I rowed internationally, it was thought that an athlete
reached his or her physical peak at 25. (Hence, my coach’s suggestion
that I consider retirement at 26.) We know now that people can continue
to see improvements in performance much later in life. A case in point
is British rower Greg Searle. One half of the coxed pair that famously
rowed down Italy’s Abbagnale brothers to win Olympic gold in 1992,
Searle returned to the GB squad last season following a 10-year hiatus
and won worlds silver in the eight.
Such a comeback, to one of the best boats in the world’s best rowing
nation no less, indicates just how valuable someone of Searle’s
experience and skill level is to a program. That being said, there are
few coaches who would recommend that their athletes take a decade-long
break from the sport. An athlete’s improvement is based upon the level
of performance at which they start. Those who experience sustained
success in rowing are the ones who are able to continue their specific
training without interruption. In short, they stick around, train at the
highest level, and improve consistently. Such consistency may be even
more important for aspiring elite rowers, who need to constantly improve
their training regimen to reach the top.
The nature of high performance training is such that improvements come
in small increments and require a significant amount of work. Any
extended time off will have a significant impact on performance levels,
which only increases the physical and mental demands the rower has to
confront upon a return. If they left for the right reasons, however,
they will be up to the challenge.
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