Critical velocity (CV) and critical power (CP) have been proposed to be effective indirect anaerobic threshold methods in monitoring training and predicting performance of rowing, respectively. However, which index is the most proper one when applying critical concept in rowing performance is not clear. Purpose To compare the two indexes in predicting indoor rowing performance by combining different physiological variables, including maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), anaerobic threshold (OBLA) and modified Wingate test, which are important physiological variables in endurance performance. Method Fifteen elite female rowers (age 20.7 ± 1.4 years, height 1.64 ± 0.35m, weight 56.64 ± 4.38kg) were recruited in this study. VO2max (43.31 ± 5.25ml/kg/min) and OBLA (157.81 ± 22.08W) were measured during a discontinuous graded exercise test, starting at 100W, on a Concept II ergometer increased by 25 W for each 3 min stage. Four test times of duration 90s, 240s, 600s, and 1200s were used to determine CP (139.49 ± 20.37W), and CV(4.00 ± 0.14m/s) was estimated by 400m, 600m, 800m, 1000m maximal exertion trials on different days as well by using Linear distance-time model. Peak power (353.48 ± 27.71W), maximum power (350.12 ± 26.72W), minimum power (336.85 ± 21.58W), mean power (314.44 ± 27.87W), fatigue index [(max power – min power)/mean power] were obtained using a modified Wingate test protocol (30s sprint) on the ergometer. Result The results showed that VO2max, OBLA, CP, CV, peak power, mean power were significantly correlated with 2000m indoor rowing performance (r=−0.84, −0.85, −0.81, −0.97, −0.66, −0.67, p<0.01). By submitting mean power, fatigue index, VO2max, OBLA with each index to a stepwise regression analysis, it produced two individual critical concept models as following to predict 2000m indoor rowing performance:CV model: Time for 2000m=−131.44(CV)-89.57(fatigue) index+1022.27 (R2 = 0.96, SEE=4.08, p<0.05); CP model: Time for 2000m = −0.445(OBLA) −1.853(VO2max) +643.98 (R2 = 0.84, SEE=7.75, p<0.05). Conclusion Our findings in this study indicated that in the CV model, CV has more predictive power, represented as anaerobic threshold, than OBLA to predict rowing performance. Besides CV, fatigue index from modified Wingate test explains an additional 15 % variance in rowing performance. Therefore, compared with CP, CV could be used when applying critical concept in training and evaluate indoor performance in rowing.