Europe's Heatwave Affects Athletes

Rowing in the European heat
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Rowers will be feeling the heat at the World Championships and not just from their competition. Europe is hot. Monsoon activity in sub-Saharan Africa is pushing air over Europe causing record-breaking temperatures and it looks likely to remain into the next month.

Temperatures have been stuck in the mid-30’s Celsius and higher for weeks as national teams dispersed throughout the continent prepare for the World Championships later this month in Milan, Italy.

Even the Australian women high in the mountains of St. Moritz, Switzerland are monitoring their reaction to the heat. Team doctor Hannah Hrones regularly carries out urine checks on the rowers to test for dehydration while their male counterparts in Varese, Italy have been working hard to keep their fluids up.

Meanwhile the Canadian crew arrived in Italy this week and Head Coach Brian Richardson, says it is a lot hotter than the mild summer they left behind in Canada. ?The team is struggling a bit at the moment. It’s certainly hotter than we expected,? says Richardson. The coaches have kept the same training regime and Richardson expects the athletes will be acclimatised by the time they move from Erba to Milan.

The Dutch team, currently based in Munich, Germany have been monitoring their fluid levels by stepping onto the scales before and after each training session. The coaches have also adjusted training times to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

Yet to arrive in Europe the United States national team will be well acclimatised, according to communications director Brett Johnson, as the national training centre in Princeton is known for hot temperatures and humidity. They will arrive a week before the Championships start to finish their acclimatisation process.

Teams training in Croatia, Romania and Hungary are enjoying their normal hot summer and, like the Italians, will arrive in Milan to conditions they are used to.

FISA Development Director Thor Nilsen says the biggest problem for athletes under the heat wave conditions is dehydration. Currently working with national teams in Hazewinkel, Belgium, Nilsen says athletes need to drink six to eight litres of fluids per day to prevent dehydration. Nilsen uses a reflactometre that measures an athlete’s dehydration level. ?When the Chinese first arrived they were showing extreme dehydration but they have improved with increased fluids,? says Nilsen.

An athlete in a standard 90-minute workout can loose one to one and a half litres of fluid which can equal about two kilos of weight so Nilsen says it is important to check an athlete’s weight as well.

According to Nilsen it takes about 10 to 14 days for adjustment to the continuous heat currently being experienced in Europe.  

The forecast in Milan remains virtually the same over the next couple of weeks with temperatures in the mid 30s Celsius and the potential for increased humidity as possible thunderstorms approach mid-way through the Championships. Weather experts have predicted the hot temperatures in Italy will continue through into September.