Percentile curves and reference values for 2000-m rowing ergometer performance time in international rowers aged 14-70 years

The aim of this study was to provide percentile curves and reference values for the performance in 2000-m maximal effort on rowing ergometer. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a non-probabilistic sample (n=15420) obtained from an on-line ranking of indoor rowing and made from results between 2010 and 2014 recorded in 2000-m official races. Percentile curves and reference values were calculated using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) with a transformation of data to Box-Cox Power Exponential distribution and cubic splines as smoothing technique with age as the explanatory variable. This study is the first to present percentile curves and reference data to evaluate 2000-m performance time (indirect measure of mechanical power) in rowing ergometer depending on age (14-70) for both sexes and body-mass classifications (light- and heavyweight rowers). These curves and values are of interest in assessing indoor rowing performance and in measuring the specific physical condition of rowers in 2000-m regattas on-water. Percentiles also can be useful to predict performance levels in oncoming ages