Adaptive learning in Brazil, racing in Italy

By Melissa Bray

Adaptive rowing continues to develop around the world as the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, featuring adaptive rowing for the first time, draws closer.

South America was the focus of the fifth International adaptive rowing and coaching classification workshop organised by the Brazilian Rowing Confederation along with FISA, the International Rowing Federation and the Brazilian Paralympic Committee. Sao Paulo’s City Hall helped host the event with FISA adaptive rowing commission members Judy Morrison (USA) and Simon Goodey (GBR) delivering talks on the classification of athletes as well as rowing-specific topics.

So far Brazil is the only South American country with an adaptive rowing programme, but considerable interest was shown by Argentina and with Uruguayan injured football star Dario Silva indicating interest in rowing, the sport is spreading.

Goodey, who is also an international technical classifier, said that many adaptive rowers internationally come to the sport after road traffic accidents that cause spinal cord injuries. But, Goodey says, in Brazil the main cause of injury is from gun shots.

“All of the people involved have sustained injury in their life,” said Goodey. “There were no congenital disabilities.”

The Functional Electrical Stimulation Assisted Rowing programme created much interest, a programme already being used in Great Britain, which uses surface electrodes attached to paralysed muscles to help the muscles operate. It means that currently an indoor rowing sliding seat can be used by paralysed rowers.

Meanwhile last weekend in Gavirate, Italy, the Italian adaptive regatta attracted competitors from across Italy, France and Spain.

French sculler Pierre Paugam won the men’s single. Paugam competed in the adaptive single at last year’s World Rowing Championships. Italy’s Simone Miramonti (from Gavirate) finished second. Of the women Italy’s Agnese Moro (fifth at the 2006 World Rowing Championships in Eton, Great Britain) stayed ahead of Marie Baskevitch of France. The coxed four was won by a composite Italian crew steered by Gavirate local Davide Magni.

Medals were presented by World Champion and Olympic medallist and local Elia Luini and World Champion Stefano Basalini.

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