Pararowing


Pararowing is a category of rowing race for those with physical, visual or intellectual disabilities.

History

In 1913, rowing for individuals with disabilities was initiated by headmaster George Clifford Brown at Worcester College for the Blind in Great Britain. Brown encouraged blind students to participate in particular sports in which they would be able to compete at an equal level to sighted players and do so without modifications. Other organizations dedicated to rehabilitating the blind, such as St. Dunstan's Hostel, started rowing clubs shortly afterwards in 1915. Competitive rowing with blind rowers first began in 1914 between Worcester College and the Old Boys in one race and Worcester College and Worcester Boy Scouts in another race the same year.
In October 1945, veterans from the Army, Navy, and Marines blinded during WWII entered into the Navy Day Regatta on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Some consider this event as what spawned the international interest of adaptive rowing.

Classes

Under FISA rules there are three categories for adaptive rowers:
;PR3 :Use of at least one leg, trunk and arms. Also for those with visual and intellectual impairments. Rowed with standard boats and sliding seats.
;PR2 :Only use of trunk muscles. Boat has fixed seat.
;PR1 :Limited trunk control. Boat has fixed seat and rower is strapped at upper chest level to only allow shoulder and arm movements.

Events

At FISA World Championships there are now 9 boat events.
Boat TypeSeat CountSexCoxedClassFISA NotationFISA World ChampionshipsParalympic Games
Scull1MenUnspecifiedPR1PR1 M1x
Scull1WomenUnspecifiedPR1PR1 W1x
Scull1MenUnspecifiedPR2PR2 M1x
Scull1WomenUnspecifiedPR2PR2 W1x
Scull2MixedUnspecifiedPR2PR2 Mix2x
Scull2MixedUnspecifiedPR3PR3 Mix3x
Sweep2MenNoPR3PR3 M2-
Sweep2WomenNoPR3PR3 W2-
Sweep4MixedYesPR3PR3 Mix4+

Racing was held over 1,000 m, but from 2017 the distance was changed to the standard 2,000m. In mixed events half the crew must be male and other half female. Single shells for the PR1 category must have stabilising pontoons attached to the riggers.
Adaptive events were added to the World Rowing Championships in 2002 and took place at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China.