Para-rowing was introduced to the Paralympic programme at Beijing 2008. It is open to athletes with a physical impairment or vision impairment.
Athletes compete in single sculls, double scull, or a coxed four depending on their level of impairment.
Para Rowing
Overview
Events & Disciplines
- Single Scull (men’s and women’s events)
- Double Sculls (mixed)
- Coxed Four (mixed)
Rules & Equipment
The hull of the adaptive rowing boat is identical to able-bodied boats. Adaptive rowing boats are equipped with special seats, which vary according to the disability of the rower. To date, there are no other specifications on the seat apart from the following: the LTA4+ has a sliding seat; the other three boat classes have fixed seats. The TA 2x has a seat, which offers ‘complimentary support’. The AW1x and AM1x are equipped with a seat, which offers ‘ postural support’ to those individuals with compromised sitting balance (i.e. spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy). This ensures the upper body is supported and kept in a fixed position.
Smaller boats are equipped with buoyancy devices called pontoons, which act as stabiliser attached to the boats riggers, providing additional lateral balance.
Classification
In rowing, classifications are essential for ensuring fair competition among athletes with varying impairments. Here’s how rowers are classified:
• Coxed Four: Rowers in the coxed four event must be adept at using a sliding seat to propel the boat. Each crew can include a maximum of two rowers with visual impairment, with only one allowed to be classified as B3. The remaining crew members have physical impairments, with a requirement for two rowers of each gender. The coxswain, responsible for guiding the boat, can be of any gender and is not required to have an impairment.
• Double Scull: In the double scull event, rowers who cannot use a sliding seat but have functional trunk use, despite weakened lower limb function or mobility, compete.
• Single Scull: Competitors in the single scull category typically have minimal or no trunk function, relying mainly on arm and shoulder strength to propel their boats.