Lessons in rowing for Myanmar

Myanmar lined up at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with their first rower to make it to the Olympic Games. Shwe Zin Latt raced in the women’s single. Latt was recently one of 36 people who participated in a rowing coaching course supported by Olympic Solidarity.

Swiss rowing coach Andreas Leichtfuss talked to World Rowing about the course and his Myanmar experience.

World Rowing: What is the current state of rowing in Myanmar?
Andreas Leichtfuss: Rowing is a small kind of sport in Myanmar. If they row it’s focused on performance, not recreational. The total number of rowers is around 30. There are three clubs existing: Navy RC, Yangon University RC and Myanmar Rowing and Canoe Federation. They all row on Inya Lake close to Yangon (Myanmar’s largest city). It’s very suitable, 4×3 km, no boat traffic.

WR: What was the stimulus behind the Olympic Solidarity course?
AL: In 2008 women’s single sculler Shwe Zin Latt qualified for the Olympic Games. The intention was to improve coaching knowledge to continue good performances at the Asian level

WR: Was the course solely for rowing coaching?
AL: Every day, we practiced and studied rowing coaching only for six hours (over nine days).

WR: What kind of people participated in the course?
AL: Experienced (paid) coaches, many rowers, coaching beginners. A total of 36 people, with an average age of perhaps 25.

WR: What is the next stage from here?
AL: Before the next events, like the Asian Games, they will try to organise training camps.

WR: What kind of details were covered by the course?
AL: The main guideline was the FISA Handbook ‘Be a coach’, complemented by practical sessions like on-water coaching, weight training, ergometer sessions and additional contributions of local people and a FISA-umpire (issues included injury prevention, mental preparation and FISA racing rules).

WR: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing rowing in Myanmar?
AL: This country is facing an international ban and has to deal with a continued economic crisis. Resources are limited and political isolation makes it difficult to be open for support like this course. But the Myanmar rowers are hard working athletes with a strong fighting spirit, hungry for success, who consistently show good results at the Asian level.

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