22 May 2015
Proud Paralympians part of Gavirate regatta
Para-rowers from nine nations gathered in Gavirate, Italy for a ten-day training camp and of those nations, six had never participated in rowing at the Paralympic Games. The camp was organised and run by the World Rowing Federation, FISA with the objective to increase the number of countries in the Paralympic Games and Paralympic Qualification regattas. The new para-rowing nations also received funding to attend from FISA and the Agitos Foundation’s 2014 Grant Support Programme.
The 27 rowers and coaches came from Argentina, Austria, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, Sri Lanka and Uganda.
“The development camp is intended to provide intensive coaching and seminars to help improve these crews ability to participate at the Paralympic level,” said Shirley Stokes, one of the event organisers and a former member of FISA’s Para-rowing Commission.
Under the direction of experienced international para-rowing coaches, the participating athletes took part in two on-water training sessions each day. The athletes, however, weren’t the only ones benefitting from the experience as their own coaches were also on hand to learn from the experts as well as each other, on more effective methods of training and technique for para-rowing.
A number of sessions were delivered as part of the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Proud Paralympian education programme. This was the third pilot project of this initiative and included sessions on the Paralympic Movement, social media and values in sport.
The camp concluded with all participants taking part in the 9th International Para-Rowing Regatta. The regatta saw participation from over 300 para-rowers, masters and competitors with an intellectual disability from 24 nations. “This year was very successful,” said regatta organiser Paula Grizzetti,.“We had a record number of entries per nation and number of participants.”
Although most medals went to the well-established para-rowing nations, the para-camp also contributed to the success of the regatta. “There was a high level of competition with most of the A-finalists from the World Rowing Championships,” said Grizzetti. “And even the crews from the para-rowing camp showed a strong improvement with only one week of training.”
The rivalry between Great Britain’s Tom Aggar and Alexey Chuvashev of Russia continued in the para AS men’s single sculls. At the World Rowing Championships last year Aggar finished ahead of Chuvashev (silver and bronze respectively), but in Gavirate Chuvashev was the winner with Aggar in second.
Great Britain got the gold in the para LTA mixed coxed four with Italy in silver. The para TA mixed double sculls was won by France’s Perle Bouge and Stephane Tardieu followed by the Netherlands and Israel.
One of the bigger upsets came in the para AS women’s single sculls with Israel’s Moran Samuel winning gold over World Champion, Birgit Skarstein of Norway.
The regatta itself is unique as it integrates the Para-Rowing Regatta with the 2nd INAS International Regatta (for athletes with an intellectual disability) and the 5th International Masters Regatta. The 4th INAS Indoor World Rowing Championship also took place during this period in Gavirate.
Full Results of the regatta can be found through the Italian Rowing Federation website:
http://www.canottaggio.org/risultati_2015/1_adaptive_gavirate/menu.shtml