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Why all the fuss over him specifically? All the Cambridge and Oxford rowers are "beasts" at the end of the day. I doubt he is that much better than any of the others...

Great shout #1. What would Matthew Pinsent know about rowing........? :-/

Interesting article!- I was just wondering how would Constantine compare with current members of the British men's 8 when it comes to erg times over various distances. I myself am a few months older than Constantine and although I have only been rowing for two years, I have learnt that experience plays a massive part when it comes to having the correct technique, and being able to turn any sort of physical advantage to an advantage on the water. So when you mention that the british team is a 'different beast' to what it was in times past, do you mean that if someone wants to break into any crew they have to perform at a much higher level than their competitors or that experience plays a big role?
I'm not too familiar with the gb rowing set up but would constantine have a lot more lengthy competitive experience than rowers of a similar age such as Greg Searle, 20 years ago? ..and yes I apologise for the numerous questions, but as someone who wants to progress in the sport and has a groeing interest in the sport, I was just curious to know :)

Well I've rowed with some of the Cambridge crew so I want to know what makes him so much "better" than the rest...

All the fuss over Constantine is that he's 19, whilst most of the oxford and cambridge crews are mid 20's.
He left Eton last year and at school he was known as being one of the best athletes we've ever had. You have to take into account that Constantine only started rowing when he was 16, even though most people start when they are 13. As Pinsent explains, Constantine pretty much doesn't lactate, so he can push himself harder than anyone can imagine and he won't be in nearly as much pain.

The thing about the boat race and 8's rowing in general is that you row as one... Constantine could be Superman on speed, however if he is along side (not literally) other oarsman that are physically bigger and don't have the aforementioned internal capability that Constantine does... they will not win the Boat race. For analysis purposes it is much more helpful for lay people to have direct match ups of the two crews... Could that be in the pipeline Mr "you won more gold medals that Dame Kelly but haven't received a knighthood, what's up with that?" Pinsent?

#5 - There is a big difference between producing lactate and lactating. I'd be impressed if he did lactate given he's a man...

Well I've rowed with some of the Cambridge crew so I want to know what makes him so much "better" than the rest...

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Yeah the great thing about these forums is that you can lie about anything and everything.

The race on Saturday should be very interesting though....




Steven Spielberg.

No. 5 You cant talk, i'm Steven Spielberg....

No. I'm Steven Spielberg.

this forum is only big enough for one spielberg...so whoever is lying, speak now

I'm Steven Spielberg and so's my wife.

#6 - Pinsent does have a knighthood.

#3 - His splits were excellent - as Pinsent explains: after a session at different intervals he then does a 4m burst - at did over 1300m...which is a split of 1:27...huge.
As to what makes him better than the rest? Well he's young, first Boat Race and 8s are always (I found) more difficult to row in anyway. Larger team, more effort to get everyone's catch perfect.
As Pinsent says - he's a beast. Hopefully GB can grow him properly and get medals out of him in a few years.
Would have actually liked a longer clip of his training/assessing though. Next time please Mr. Pinsent?

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

"That burning sensation is lactic acid"

Not true

#16.
Quit splitting hairs Con80. A monkey would be able to understand that Sir Matthew is talking about the work carried out when lactic acid has built up is what causes the burning sensation. I love blogs like these, I have a passing interest in most obscure sports that don't fill the back pages of our papers but I love hearing about young stars coming through and if Sir Matthew reckons he's a freaky star, then he's on my radar to see if he fulfils his potential.

There are quite a few reasons to think Loulo might do well in the future! He was stroke of possibly one of the most dominant schoolboy crews there has been, he's gone under 6 minutes for 2k, and at the GB trials in October he was 3rd overall - despite not doing nearly as much sculling as everyone else in the top 10. The closest other guy under 20 at those trials came 19th.

At #8.

"Yeah the great thing about these forums is that you can lie about anything and everything"

Wht would you expect 4 to be lying? Rowing is a team sport and if they train for 6 months of the year, it possible GreekRooneyGod7 has rowed with them for the other 6 months, either at uni or in their local club at their own town.

Maybe he was part of the intial training squad at the start of the uni training season before being cut. If so, then it is viable that he could have rowed with them, or even socially in a four during the summer months. It seems post 8 doesn't know much about rowing.

I also would like to point out a couple of things. Everyone is vital in a boat but if you have someone who can work harder and for longer than anyone else, this will prob make the difference in winning and not winning if the boats are equal.

Ultimately, as Matt says, it doesn't matter how strong or fit you are, if you're not as good a rower as the next guy, he'll get in the boat, ergos sink. I remember Redgrave saying that Tim Foster was always way behind others on the ergo times, but he "knew how to make a 4 go fast", a skill that few rowers possess. So how does this guy have an advantage? As he apparently doesn't produce as much lactic acid, his body won't be screaming as much as the next guy so he'll be able to concentrate his efforts on making the boat go fast, rather than how much pain he's in.

Also, if Matt Pinsent thinks a rower is worth writing about, I think that's a pretty fair indication that he's not too shabby...

I always find that lactic acid gets a bit of a bad press and in-fact is not responsible for the burning sensation at all, that is hydrogen irons in the body. Not really sure why i am sticking up for an acid but it is also responsible for the taste of sourdough bread, high praise indeed. anyway not trying to be a know it all, I'm just happy i know something. thought mr pinsent's short program on rowing in Iraq was fascinating, if you have not seen it then worth a watch.

#20

That's not true. Foster was never 'way behind' anyone on the ergo. He was getting 5:52 around the time of the Sydney games, 10 seconds behind Pinsent's best, but a very good score all the same. And probably in the top 4 squad ergos at the time ;)

@22 If you're correct, then I bow to your superior knowledge! Maybe things are exaggerated in the book.

@ 16.

Indeed you are right. The common misconception that the burning feeling in the muscles frustrates me as lactic acid isn't produced in the muscles and so cannot produce acidosis. Hydrogen ions produced from ATP hydrolisation however...

Anyway away from the science, the fact is that the lad is 19 years old and has massive potential. As a few posts have mentioned, a) if he doesn't have the technique to compliment his physiology then he is useless and b) in a boat as big as an 8, his overall influence is limited.

If in the future he can be utilised in smaller boats then we could see him become a very successful athlete internationally. I was frustrated during the video that there was never a clear shot of the physiological variables on the big screen behind him. It would seem that his aerobic capacity is second to none so I would like to have seen the numbers. However, as in any elite sport the numbers are kept close to the team’s chest.

Why does the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Persist with the running for the bus comparison?? It is the most condecsending comparison.

People get it, rowing is hard.

How about a bit of rowing journalism, targeted at rowers? Less of how the average rower can run to the bus without keeling over and having a heart attack, maybe a bit more about yer mans bogey catch or his strong finish.

floreat etona !!

I'm louloudis's shoe shiner and the reason he's so good at rowing is he has only ever eaten raw onions from the age of 13. And if you don't believe this then be prepared for a whirlwind of watery nightmare.

Your's sincerely the real S. Spielberg

Finally a blog with replies that have spelling, punctuation and grammar!

S. Spielberg

@Martin Gough - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport

Loulou is supposed to be around the 5'58 mark for a 2k erg. He's supposed to have gotten sub-6 at 18 anyway.

This is a general comment. I am a Canadian rowing fan who appreciates any coverage of the sport of rowing and I am following Pinsent's postings in cyberspace. Thank you ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ. Keep developing your coverage of this wonderful international sport! I hope this will inspire our own CBC to follow suit.