From 19 to 23 June, Rio de Janeiro was host to the annual Americas para rowing training camp, offering training and competition opportunity for athletes and coaches from the Americas. The focus of this camp was to identify and train athletes whom are able to compete in the Paris 2024 Qualification Regatta and support para rowing programmes of Americas Member Federations, as a part of the lead up to Paris 2024.
World Rowing aims to grow para rowing in the Americas and have athletes and coaches compete at reference international high level regattas at continental level. Athletes and coaches from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay benefited from a valuable training opportunity and participation in a high level event in the Lagoa Paralympic Olympic Venue.
There will now be five events in the Paralympic rowing programme: the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls, the PR1 Women’s Single Sculls, the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls, the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four and the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls.
This camp specifically focused on the events part of the Continental Paralympic Qualification Regattas: PR1 Men’s Single Sculls, the PR1 Women’s Single Sculls and the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls
Frederich Mallrich, World Rowing Para Rowing Commission member and World Rowing Para Coach highlights the strategic importance of the camp “This Camp is very important for both athletes and coaches, as it allows for knowledge exchange. Everyone will be better prepared for World level events as well as highly benefit from knowledge transfer to develop their own national systems.
In addition the camp participants benefited from a national classification workshop and from an International classification panel, which helped countries classify their athletes to allow them to take on an international High Performance pathway.”
Safety first
The ability to swim and stay afloat is essential for participants in water sports, such as rowing. The risk of tipping over or falling into the water in a rowboat can be dangerous if athletes are unable to stay afloat, and coaches need to be prepared.
Each rower taking part in the Americas Para Rowing Training camp and Rio International Para Rowing Regatta needed to evidence they have a basic swimming ability, including being able to swim 50 m and keep their head above water unassisted for three minutes.
A capsize and safe recovery drill exercise was delivered as a pre-requisite for participation.
International Classification
The international classification panel allowed for new faces to enter the international rowing scene. An important stepping stone for countries in the continent.
Photos credit: Satiro Sodré