LEO Training: Strength & Conditioning | Endurance | Health | Performance | Injury Prevention | Joe DeLeo

Episode 133 | Kyra Edwards - Creating Accessibility and Diversity in Rowing

Kyra Edwards has raced for Great Britain at the junior, U23 and senior levels, and has won junior silver and U23 bronze World Championships medals. She has a degree in statistics from UCLA and is training for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. In this interview, Kyra and I discuss the similarities and differences between the United States collegiate system and the Great Britain Rowing Team. We also discuss how to improve diversity and inclusivity in the sport of rowing and her experiences as a Black mixed heritage athlete in a sport dominated by whites. Part 1  - Rowing Culture Differences in culture and rowing experience in GB and US Collegiate System Degree in Statistics and what you would like to pursue post rowing career Science of Rowing Part 2 - Creating more accessibility and diversity in rowing Creating more pathways and accessibility to the sport across the world. How do we do it? We have seen greater awareness and resources (financial, people) put into place to promote more opportunity and diversity. What’s the next step in your opinion? Show Notes: World Rowing Profile UCLA Profile Instagram For British rower Kyra Edwards, being a source of representation is ‘an important message’ Team GB's Only Black Rower: 'I feel like a guest in a white, privileged space' Why I am Now Talking to White People About Race  

Episode 132 | Alex Wolf - Strength & Conditioning in Rowing

Alex Wolf spent 15 years working for the English Institute of Sport where he held the positions of Head of Strength and Conditioning and more recently Head of Learning. He spent five years working with the GB Rowing team in preparation for the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic games. We discuss Alex's new book Strength and Conditioning for Rowing as well as leadership, communication, and trunk training. Enjoy the interview!

Episode 131 | Dr. Bryan Mann - The History, Science, and Application of Plimetrics

In this podcast interview Dr. Bryan Mann discusses the history, science, and application of pliometrics. Pliometrics or more commonly known as plyometrics was developed by Dr. Yuri. Verkoshansky.  This podcast explains how the name was quite literally, “lost in translation”.  Dr. Mann will also discuss applications and some research studies around pliometrics. I highly recommend viewing the video version of this interview as it includes some slides from Dr. Mann. Enjoy the show! Part 1 - History Shock Method Includes Shock Method and Depth Jump Developed in 1960’s by Yuri Verkhoshansky Part 2  - Science and Application Pliometric Termed this in 1930’s due to increased muscle tension In 1938 Hubbard and Stetson introduced the term “pliometric” due to recognition of three different contractions the muscles underwent: miometric (shorter), isometric (same), and pliometric (longer) Frog Study in 1968 Show Notes: Bryan Mann Profile at University of Miami Instagram Twitter Video Version of Interview Shock Method by Dr. Yuri Verkoshansky

Episode 130 | Dr. Volker Nolte & Dr. Valery Kleshnev - Power Measurement and Biomechanics in Rowing

In this podcast episode I sit down with Dr. Volker Nolte and Dr. Valery Kleshnev to discuss power measurement and biomechanics in the rowing stroke. In Episode 119, I had interviewed Lotte Lintmeijer who presented a new method for power measurement. Dr. Nolte and Dr. Kleshnev wanted to discuss the traditional method of power measurement and share why this is still valid. We also discuss how this integrates into technology and what rowing can do to be more appealing to fans and spectators. Here is a short bio on both of my guests. Dr. Valery Kleshnev -  a graduate sport scientist and silver Olympic medallist. Since 1986, Valery has been involved in R&D and consultancy in rowing biomechanics and has spent more than 20 years working at sport institutes in Russia, Australia and the UK. You can learn more about Valery at his company's website Biorow.com  Dr. Volker Nolte was the head rowing coach for Western University for 24 years and retired in 2017. Nolte’s work as a coach was recognized several times over his career. He received the Award of Merit from Rowing Canada Aviron in 1996 and the International Rowing Federation (FISA) in 1998, the President’s Award from Rowing Canada in 1998 and was the 3M Coach of the Year in 2001. In 2006 and 2007, he was awarded Coach of the Year from the Canadian University Rowing Association and was the first Western coach after Jack Fairs who received the Jack Fairs Coaching Award of Merit in 2009. In 2010, Nolte was presented with the Coaches’ Recognition Award from Rowing Canada. Nolte received both a Physical Education Diploma (1976) and a Civil Engineering Diploma (1979) from the University of Saarbrücken (Germany), and a Ph.D. (1984) from the German Sport University in Cologne (Germany) in Biomechanics. He is an internationally acknowledged expert in biomechanics. Together with his expertise in the coaching field, he frequently presents at scientific and coach education conferences worldwide. His research includes coaching and biomechanics of high performance sport, especially rowing. He is also a distinguished researcher in the field of sport equipment. He co-holds international patents for isokinetic training machines and his developments range from special measurement tools up to new boat designs in rowing. His research has produced many papers in refereed journals, articles in various publications and the popular book “Rowing Faster”, now in its second edition (2011).   Part 1 | Power Measurement New Method vs. Traditional Method Nothing new in rowing Integration with technology by NK Empower Oarlock Part 2 | Gamification in Rowing, Training Velocity, and Spinal Kinematics Discussion around making rowing more appealing to audiences and fans by using technology to show athletes outputs, speeds, and watts in reserve. How to train velocity for rowing; the next frontier in S&C? Spinal Kinematics and implications with different rowing styles. Show Notes: Biorow.com Kleshnev on Researchgate Nolte on Researchgate

Episode 129 | Dan Harris - Developing Rowers for the Senior Team

In this interview I sit down with Dan Harris, World Class Start Coach for Bath. Dan works on behalf of British Rowing and is responsible for running talent ID testing regularly – to try to identify and recruit more athletes. In addition Dan is instrumental in training his athletes day to day and has been in this role since September 2011.  One of the things that makes Dan’s perspective particularly insightful is handles the coaching on the water and in the strength and conditioning facility. I learned a lot from my conversation with Dan and how during the formative years of athletic development between 14-18 he emphasizes that some of his rowers strength train up to 4x a week to add mass in preparation for the high volume they will need to handle at the senior level. Part 1 | Talent ID  What physical metrics are you looking for in your athletes (height, weight, athletic background)? What ergo scores? Other athletic profile/physiological measurements to identify strong potential rowing candidates. Anything on the mental/psychological side? Part 2 | Athletic Development More gym sessions at a younger age to work on mobility, flexibility, strength, stability, power, - Why is this important? Athletic development and importance of adding some muscle mass so the athletes can sustain the training volume at U23 and Senior levels. What is your focus for that 14-18 age group in terms of gym? In terms of rowing? Notable Olympians who have come through the Bath Start programme? Skills to do Pull ups / chin ups Front and back squat Seated rows and lat pull down, bent over row vs. bench pull Rapid Fire What’s your top technical drill to develop skill for a rower? What strength and conditioning exercise do you feel has the best carryover to rowing? If you were in charge of FISA, what would you do to keep lightweight rowing? How would you continue to develop and expand the sport? What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago? What’s the one thing junior athletes should be doing more of to compliment their training and health? Show Notes: https://www.minervabathrc.org.uk/rowing-news/profile-interview-dan-harris/ Instagram https://www.thesubath.com/rowing/world_class_start/ https://www.teambath.com/sport/rowing/talent-identification/