Road to Paris : the PR2 and PR3s

On the Road to Paris, we continue with the Paralympic Games and the PR2 and PR3 boats. Paris will see the debut of a brand new Paralympic boat class, the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls, which provided some great racing at the last World Rowing Championships and has all the ingredients for a very successful introduction on the biggest stage for Para rowing.

The PR3 Mixed Coxed Four will be down to anyone that can stop the unbelievable winning streak from Great Britain in that boat class – they haven’t lost a race since 2010 in this event. The reigning three-time Paralympic champions are going for four in Paris, and it looks like no one will be able to stop them on their quest.

The PR2 Mixed Double Sculls was also won twice in a row by Great Britain, but while Lauren Rowles will be back to defend her title with her new partner, some hungry crews looking to break that British domination.

We take a close look at the para crew boats at what may happen during Paris Paralympic Qualification at this year’s World Rowing Championships and we look beyond in the row to Paris.

Total quota places for Paris : 8 for the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls, 10 for the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls, 8 for the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four

Total number of athletes : 80

Qualification pathways:
6 quota places for PR2 Mixed Double Sculls and PR3 Mixed Coxed Fours, and 5 for PR3 Mixed Double Sculls the 2023 World Rowing Championships

1 quota place at each Continental qualification regatta for the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls (if eligible)

2 quota places for the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls, 1 quota PR3 Mixed Double Sculls, 2 quota places for the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four at the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta 
Any slots that will still not be allocated could be allocated via the Bipartite Commission Invitation Allocation.

PR2 Mixed Double Sculls

Reigning Paralympic Champion: Great Britain
Reigning World Champion: Ukraine
World Rowing Cup II winner: Great Britain

The magic British duo of Lauren Rowles and Laurence Whiteley will be seen as one of the winningest combinations ever in Para-rowing, with two Paralympic titles in 2016 and 2021. With Whiteley now retired, Lauren Rowles and her new doubles partner, Gregg Stevenson, will look to continue the domination of GB in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls – and their new combination is off to a great start, with a European Championship title and a win at World Cup II this year.

Behind GB a lot of crews are in contention for the A-Final – which will equal a direct ticket for Paris next year. Ukraine, Poland and France were on the podium at the World Champs this year, and are all crews that can challenge the Brits for the gold medal. China and the Netherlands were on the podium in Tokyo, and Corne De Koning, a two-time World Champion in that boat class, will look to qualify for his third straight Paralympic Games. Crews from Ireland and Uzbekistan might also sneak into the A-Final and get that direct spot. We can’t wait to watch!

PR3 Mixed Double Sculls

Reigning Paralympic Champion : –
Reigning World Champion : France
World Rowing Cup II winner: Australia

The grand debut of the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls at the Paralympics will be in Paris next year. And based on the results from the last World Championships, could we see France winning a gold medal on home waters in 2024? The duo of Laurent Cadot and Elur Alberdi was crowned World Champion last year, and despite Alberdi being injured at the beginning of the season, Cadot and new teammate Guylaine Marchand won the European title in Bled.

The other dominant crew this year was Australia, with Jed Altschwager and Nikki Ayers looking dominant at World Cup II – setting up a new World Best Time in the process. These two crews should be able to book their spot for Paris. Behind them, Brazil and Ukraine – on the podium in Racice in 2022, and in Varese earlier this year – should also be in contention not only for qualification, but also for podium places in Belgrade.

The last two direct spots are up for grabs. Israel, the USA and Austria were in the A-Final at last year’s World Champs, but were replaced in Varese this year by Italy and Great Britain, two countries with a huge tradition in Para-rowing. One thing is sure – no one will want to finish last in the A-Final in Belgrade and miss out on direct qualification…

PR3 Mixed Coxed Four

Reigning Paralympic Champion : Great Britain
Reigning World Champion : Great Britain
World Rowing Cup II winner: Great Britain

Across all Olympic and Paralympic boat classes, there isn’t a more dominant boat than the GB PR3 Mixed Coxed Four. Riding an unbelievable 13-year winning streak, with three straight Paralympic gold medals, this boat really seems unbeatable, regardless of the combination. This year, the magical combination saw the return of coxswain Erin Kennedy – just four days before their final at the 2022 World Rowing Cup I, the 29-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to step away from the sport for almost a year – and have under their belt a European Championship title and a win at World Rowing Cup II. There’s little doubt that the GBR PR3Mix4+ will get a direct spot to the Paralympics.

Behind them, a few crews have been in and out of the podium. In Varese earlier this year. Germany and France have been regularly sharing honours on the podium at international events – France was not too far behind GB at the World Cup in Varese, and will certainly be in contention for podium places again in Belgrade. Italy was in the A-Final in Tokyo and will be looking to secure their direct qualification too. Australia and the USA were the other crews in the A-Final at the last World Championships, but we haven’t seen them race at World Rowing events this year – despite the AUS PR3Mix4+ looking very strong at the Gavirate International Para rowing Regatta.

With only six direct qualification spots for the Paralympics, the qualification for the A-Final will be more important than ever.