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Para rowing made its Paralympic debut at Beijing 2008. It is open to both male and female rowers with a physical or vision disability who meet the criteria set out in the Para Rowing Classification Regulation.
Athletes race over 2,000m on flat water in boats that vary in length and crew size. The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games had 26 countries competing in para rowing for 12 medals in four boat classes.
Para rowing is uniquely integrated with the World Rowing Federation, FISA, and para rowers participate alongside able-bodied athletes at some of the World Rowing Cups and the World Rowing Championships each year.
There are four events on the Paralympic rowing programme: The first boat to cross the finish line is declared the winner. The para rowing boat contains a hull identical to boats used for able-bodied athletes. However, they are equipped with special seats which are different according to the rower’s disability. Seats on both the mixed double and single scull events are fixed and provide additional support to the rowers. The single scull boats are equipped with buoyancy devices to provide additional lateral balance to the boats.
Events
Rules and Equipment
Documents:
| Hypertonia | Impaired Muscle Power |
| Ataxia | Limb Deficiency |
| Athetosis | Impaired Passive Range of Movement |
| Vision Impairment |
Only an athlete having a health condition with a minimum impairment that leads to a permanent and verifiable activity limitation shall be eligible to compete in para rowing.
For illustrated explanation please click on the button below.
| PR3 (Includes PR3 PI, PR3 B1, PR3 B2, PR3 B3)
Rowers with an eligible impairment who have functional use of their legs, trunk, and arms for rowing, and who can utilise the sliding seat to propel the boat |
|
| Minimum impairment criteria for PR3 PI
(physical impairment)
____________________ Minimum impairment criteria for PR3 B1, B2, B3 (vision impairment) |
· A full loss of three fingers on one hand, or
· At least a trans metatarsal amputation of the foot, or · The loss of ten points on one limb, or · The loss of fifteen points across two limbs _____________________________________________ · B1: Visual acuity is less than LogMAR 2.60 · B2: Visual acuity ranges from LogMAR 1.50 to 2.60 (inclusive); and/or the visual field is constricted to a diameter of less than 10 degrees · B3: Visual acuity ranges from LogMAR 1 to 1.40 (inclusive); and/or the visual field is constricted to a diameter of less than 40 degrees |
| PR2
Rowers who have functional use of the trunk and who are not able to use the sliding seat to propel the boat because of significantly weakened function or mobility of the lower limbs |
|
| Minimum impairment criteria for PR2 | · Bilateral around knee amputation, or
· Significantly impaired quadriceps; or · Neurological impairment equivalent to a complete lesion at L3 level, or · An incomplete lesion at L1; or · Combination of the above such as one leg with around knee amputation and one leg with significant quadriceps impairment; or · Cerebral palsy affecting both lower limbs. |
| PR1
Rowers who have minimal or no trunk function |
|
| Minimum impairment criteria for PR1 | · Cerebral palsy affecting both legs and the trunk; or
· Neurological Impairment with a complete lesion at T12 level, or · An incomplete lesion at T10; or · Bilateral high amputation of the legs. |
Please find the classification pathway here.
To be eligible to apply for a national classification, athletes must:
Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
International classification allows Para rowers to compete internationally at World Rowing sanctioned competitions.
It is only required for those athletes on the Paralympic pathway to represent Ireland at major games or championships.
To be eligible to apply for international classification, athletes must:
This list includes active athletes who have been classified at national and/or international level. Click here to access the Masterlist
Rowing Ireland is the National Governing Body for para rowing in Ireland. If you wish to get involved in para rowing, please access the National Governing Body link below.
| Governing Body | |
| National | Rowing Ireland |
| International | World Rowing |
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