...

Scientific Programme

Applied Sports Sciences

OP-AP19 - Training and Testing V - Hyrox, CrossFit and Rowing

Date: 03.07.2025, Time: 10:00 - 11:15, Session Room: Ponte

Description

Chair TBA

Chair

TBA
TBA
TBA

ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP19

Speaker A Tom Brandt

Speaker A

Tom Brandt
Institute of Sport Science, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Sports Biology
Germany
"Hyrox© - Physiological Demands and Performance Predictors Of A Novel High Intensity Functional Fitness Trend"

INTRODUCTION: Hyrox© is a fitness modality combining 8 functional exercises with running in a comprehensive competition format. Within this first scientific study on Hyrox©, acute physiological responses, relative perceived exertion (RPE), and possible performance determinants were assessed during a simulated Hyrox© competition to derive training recommendations and potential practical applications. METHODS: Eleven recreational Hyrox© athletes (27 % women, Hyrox© experience (median (interquartile range): 18 (19) months) participated. In a pre-test, height, body composition, hand grip strength (HGS), maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), and volume of resistance and endurance training were assessed. After 48 hours rest, a simulated Hyrox© was conducted according to the competition-standards of the “Individual Open Division”. Heart rate (HR) was tracked throughout the Hyrox©. Blood lactate (BL) and RPE were recorded at the beginning and after each run and exercise station. Differences between runs and exercise stations for HR, BL, and RPE were analyzed via Wilcoxon signed rank test. Spearmans rank correlation test was conducted to identify associations between completion times (Hyrox©, runs, exercise stations) and participant characteristics. Values are given as median (interquartile range). RESULTS: Completion time of the Hyrox© was 86.5 (14.5) minutes, whereby runs (51.2 (14.1) minutes) were significantly longer than the exercise stations (32.8 (6.1) minutes) (p = .003). Most of the Hyrox© was performed at very hard and hard intensities (79.5 (21) % and 19.6 (20.7) %) of maximum HR). Maximum BL was higher during the exercise stations (8.5 (5.4) mmol/L) compared to the runs (7.7 (4.6) mmol/L) (p = .006). Similar results were found for maximum RPE (exercise stations: 18 (2), runs: 16 (2), p = .003). The highest values for HR, BL, and RPE occurred during the last exercise (wall balls). The exercise stations with the heaviest loads were completed the fastest (sled push: 128 (34) seconds, sled pull: 155 (38) seconds). Faster Hyrox© completion correlated significantly with higher VO2max (p = .01), greater endurance training volume (p=.04), and lower body fat percentage (p = .03). CONCLUSION: Hyrox© is a HIFT modality with an emphasis on endurance capacity and moderate to low requirements in terms of maximum strength, coordination, and mobility when compared to other forms HIFT. Hyrox© may be suitable for health promotion and tactical population training.

Read CV Tom Brandt

ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP19

Speaker B Jacopo Lazzari

Speaker B

Jacopo Lazzari
Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informatica e Bioingegneria
Italy
"The Longitudinal Impact of CrossFit on Students Goal-Setting, Resilience, and Academic Success: A Three-Semester Study"

INTRODUCTION: CrossFit, a dynamic fitness program, significantly impacts students physical health, psychological well-being, and academic performance. By enhancing essential qualities like goal-setting, self-awareness, and resilience, CrossFit provides students with the tools to overcome challenges in both physical and academic areas, supporting their overall development. This study, part of the Leonardo project at Politecnico di Milano, explores the intersection of physical fitness and academic success, investigating how CrossFit can help students improve their academic performance while fostering personal growth. METHODS: To assess the longitudinal impact of CrossFit on students goal-setting and self-awareness over time, we conducted a study spanning three semesters, involving an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group participated in CrossFit three times a week throughout the semester, while the control group maintained their usual activities. The impact of CrossFit was measured using validated psychological questionnaires that assessed students psychological resilience, stress management, and coping strategies. Additionally, academic goal-setting behaviors were evaluated through questionnaires designed to gauge how realistic and attainable students were in setting their academic objectives. At a statistical level, we implemented statistical tests to compare the results of the two groups. These analyses allowed us to examine the relationships between participation in CrossFit and changes in psychological resilience, stress management, and goal-setting behaviors. By comparing the outcomes between the experimental and control groups, we could assess whether the CrossFit program had a significant impact on students ability to set realistic academic goals and manage the psychological challenges associated with academic life. The threshold for statistical significance was set at 0.05, and we used this criterion to evaluate the results of our tests. RESULTS: The results indicated that students in the experimental group demonstrated improved psychological resilience, which was reflected in their ability to manage academic challenges such as exams. These students showed a higher degree of realism in setting achievable targets. They also exhibited better stress management and coping strategies. The statistical tests showed that the differences between the experimental and control groups were significant, with p-values significantly below the significance level, indicating that the improvements observed in the experimental group were significant. CONCLUSION: Incorporating CrossFit into the academic experience provides students with a powerful framework for developing essential skills such as goal-setting, resilience, and self-awareness. The study demonstrates that physical training through CrossFit can complement academic growth by helping students refine their goal-setting abilities and become more resilient to challenges.

Read CV Jacopo Lazzari

ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP19

Speaker C Ludwig Rappelt

Speaker C

Ludwig Rappelt
German Sport University Cologne: Deutsche Sporthochschule Koln, Departement of Intervention Research in Exercise Training
Germany
"Performance Prediction and Athlete categorization using the Anaerobic Power Reserve Framework in Rowing"

INTRODUCTION: With the rowing distance reduced to 1500 m for the 2028 Olympic games, the anaerobic power reserve (APR) framework [1] has been proposed to evaluate anaerobic performance and differentiate physiological profiles [2]. This study investigated performance predictions and athlete profiles using the APR framework and related physical performance measures. METHODS: Thirty-one female (simulated 2000m performance (P2k) = 285.1 ± 36.0 W) and 63 male (P2k = 422.8 ± 62.2 W) German rowers competing at a national level or higher (53 highly trained [Tier 3], 21 elite [Tier 4], and 20 world-class athletes [Tier 5]) [3] completed tests for maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), maximal lactate accumulation rate (cLamax), peak power output (PPO), power output at V̇O2max (MAP), 2 mmol·L⁻¹ (P2) and 4 mmol·L⁻¹ blood lactate (P4), and P2k. Backwards stepwise regression models and commonality analyses were used to predict P2k and assess the contribution of each predictor, while k-means clustering based on the power reserve ratio (PRR = PPOꞏMAP⁻¹) identified athlete subgroups. RESULTS: For P2k prediction, P4, PPO, and V̇O2max in females (P2k [W] = 22.42186 + 0.7254ꞏP4 [W] + 0.09277ꞏPPO [W] + 16.10299ꞏV̇O2max [Lꞏmin-1] + ε, R2 = 0.91, SEE = 11 W), and P4, MAP, and PPO in males (P2k [W] = 15.95316 + 0.64991ꞏP4 [W] + 0.24085ꞏMAP [W] + 0.11641ꞏPPO [Lꞏmin-1] + ε, R2 = 0.94, SEE = 16 W) showed excellent model fits. Commonality analyses revealed ~90% shared variance contributions among predictors. K-means clustering identified sprint-type (females: PRR ≥1.52; males: PRR ≥1.66) and endurance-type rowers (females: PRR ≤1.43; males: PRR ≤1.62) along the PRR continuum. Male rowers identified as sprint-type showed statistically significant higher PPO (845.4 ± 102.8 vs. 686.8 ± 142.6 W, p < 0.001) and cLamax (0.45 ± 0.10 vs. 0.35 ± 0.11 mmolꞏL-1ꞏs-1, p < 0.001), while exhibiting a lower V̇O2max (60.4 ± 5.2 vs. 69.4 ± 7.0 mlꞏkg-1ꞏmin-1, p < 0.001) compared to endurance-type athletes. In females, sprint-type athletes showed statistically significant higher PPO (474.8 ± 28.7 vs. 431.6 ± 68.4 W, p = 0.020) and cLamax (0.31 ± 0.05 vs. 0.24 ± 0.07 mmolꞏL-1ꞏs-1, p = 0.006), while exhibiting a lower V̇O2max (50.9 ± 5.7 vs. 55.8 ± 4.6 mlꞏkg-1ꞏmin-1, p = 0.013) and MAP (290.5 ± 27.5 vs. 337.8 ± 51.3 W, p = 0.002) compared to endurance-type athletes. Interestingly, in both sexes, world class performance was identified in both clusters. CONCLUSION: Key predictors of P2k highlight the interplay between the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. Moreover, the identification of distinct sprint- and endurance-type clusters underscores the physiological diversity within highly trained rowers, even among athletes with similar performance outcomes. Longitudinal PRR assessments may support talent identification and facilitate individualized training strategies. REFERENCES: [1] Sandford et al., Sports Med., 2021 [2] Astridge et al., Int J Sports Physiol Perform., 2022 [3] McKay et al., Int J Sports Physiol Perform., 2022

Read CV Ludwig Rappelt

ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP19