Paralympic Rowing

Sport Summary:

For the first time rowing will be included on the Paralympic program in 2008.

Commonly known as adaptive rowing, it is open to people with a disability in sweep rowing or sculling disciplines.

Paralympic Events being contested at Beijing 2008:

  • 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 that the upper body is supported and kept in a fixed position.

Smaller boats are equipped with buoyancy devices called pontoons, which act as stabilizers attached to the boats riggers providing additional lateral balance.

Classification:

The classification in rowing corresponds to the Paralympic boat classes - LTA, TA and A:

LTA (legs, trunk and arms) includes all athletes who have a minimum disability and can use a sliding seat and use their legs for strokes as well as the trunk and arms.

TA (trunk and arms) includes athletes who can fix their pelvis on the seat but are unable to use a sliding seat due to the loss of leg function.

A (arms only) inlludes athletes who have no trunk or leg function and therefore will row only with the use of their arms

Click here for a more detailed explanation of Rowing classification in pdf.

Documents:

Rowing Australia PPP Squad Selection Policy

Links: