Science Museum exhibit on the GB Rowing Team: Could you be a champion rower?

This October half-term find out what it takes to become a champion rower in a special three-day event at the Science Museum from 25-27 October.

[newsimage=0]The GB Rowing Team’s high-performance partner Siemens works with the team on innovative ways to support the team’s training and the performance of its male, female and adaptive crews. It provided the GB Rowing Team with a RAPIDPoint^® Blood Gas Analyser so the team could monitor athletes’ adaption to high intensity training.

The GB Rowing Team, which won 10 Olympic and two Paralympic-class medals at the recent World Championships in Slovenia, uses the RAPIDPoint 340 Blood Gas Analyser to gain valuable performance data during intensive periods of training.

David Tanner CBE, the GB Rowing Team’s Performance Director, said:  “There is no question that this has helped the GB Rowing Team to improve performance on the water.”

Visitors to the Science Museum in London will be able to discover more about the training regime of an international rower – from the miles they cover on the water and the indoor rowing machines to the 6,000 calories they need to eat each day to power them to victory.

The RAPIDPoint 340® Blood Gas Analyser, will be on display in the Antenna gallery in an exhibit called ‘Can this kit help create a champion?’ It also features a GB Rowing Team racing suit and an interactive exhibit with scientists and the GB Rowing Team commenting on the technology and how it is used.

Representatives from the GB Rowing Team’s START programme, which identifies and develops international rowers of the future, will be on hand to explain what the team looks for in a potential rower.

And in the afternoon session on Wednesday, October 26, there will be the opportunity to meet some of the GB Rowing Team who have graduated from the START programme to the senior international team and won medals at the 2011 World Championships last month.

Take part in the rowing challenge and put your skills to the test on the indoor rowing machine. The person with the fastest time will win a special prize. The winner will be announced on the final day of the event.

The three-day event, ‘Antenna Live: Champion Rowers’ will take place in the Antenna gallery at the Science Museum from 25-27 October at the following times: 11.00 – 13.00 and 14.00-16.00. The event is free. For more information visit www.sciencemuseum.org.uk.