Adaptive Rowing Returns to the World Championships

The United States team includes many of the same members from 2002
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FISA is on a mission. Working towards the inclusion of rowing in the Paralympic Games programme means complying with a number of specified criteria. One of these is a minimum of 24 nations from three continents at the rowing World Championships by 2004.

This mission got under way with earnest at the 2002 World Championships when adaptive rowers from eight countries raced each other in two events. The number this year has increase to four events with 62 participants from 11 countries.

Hong Kong is appearing for the first time with entries in the LTAMx4+. This event is a sliding seat coxed four and the rowers must have some use of legs, trunk and arms (LTA). At present mixed or single sex crews can race. Hong Kong's athletes were recruited during a promotion last year and have just come out of a month of intensive training that included up to 11 sessions per week. FISA's adaptive rowing representative, Kim Fai Ho described the team as being young. ?Their average age is 16 years, but they are committed in training,? says Ho.

Last year Australia won the LTAMx4+ and the experienced Ben Felten will return to Milan in stroke seat. The visually impared Felten has international experience dating back to 1995 when he represented Australia in Finland. Coxswain Susie Edwards also returns and brings with her experience that stretches back to 1969.

The United States has the most entries including single sculler Dale Doornek. Doornek's event A1X, an arms only event, was raced last year for the first time internationally with team mate Scott Brown winning the event. This year Brown joins Angela Madsen in the debut event of the TA2X, a fixed seat double for athletes who only have use of their trunk and arms. Madsen and Brown already have a slew of rowing medals behind them. They were both on last years US team and have also completed the 52 km Catalina crossing in a double.

At Milan the adaptive rowing events will be raced in four forms with heats on Friday 29 August starting at 2.30pm (CET) and finals on Saturday 30 August from 2pm.