Rowing’s fi
rst Paralympic athletes
Scott Rand of Canada on the pontoon. eye BEIJING
© Kevin Light
paralympic rowers will make history
22 this september in Beijing, china, with
their debut at the 2008 paralympic
Games.
The impact of inclusion in the Paralympic
programme was evident at last year’s World
Rowing Championships in Munich, Germany,
with adaptive rowing participation doubling
since 2006. Competition heated up with tight
races for the eight qualifying spots in each of
the four boat classes. Three new World Best
Times were posted. Crews will vie for the final
two qualifying spots in each adaptive event
at the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta
in Munich from 8 to 11 May.
the more re markable when one considers
that rowing has been elected to be a full
Paralympic sport, not just an exhibition event,
which is usually what happens for the first
time, and when there is fierce competition
between the sports to have their sport
included in the Paralympics.”
ScottRand, member of Canada’s 2007
world bronze medal crew in the legs, trunk,
arms mixed coxed four (LTAMx4+), agrees:
“It has taken other disciplines up to two
quadrennials to gain access to the status of
IPC (International Paralympic Committee)
sanctioned event.”
Rowing’s debut at the high-profile Paralympic Games is being met with optimism
from many adaptive athletes, such as
Dominic Monypenny of Australia, two-time
World Champion in the arm’s only single
sculls (AM1x). “I think this is a tremendous
achievement by FISA. Their success is all
As Canada, Great Britain, Italy and USA
have already successfully qualified boats in
all four categories, their teams have been
focusing on rigorous preparations. Rand
acknowledges the commitment has ramped
up for Canada’s adaptive team members. This
winter, he travelled with his teammates to
training camps in warm climates. Erg testing
