Rowing is the most recent addition to the Paralympic programme and appeared at the Games for the first time at Beijing 2008. All races are held over a 1,000-metre course and each country is only allowed to enter one boat in each event.
Classification
At London 2012, the programme will feature three classes; “LTA” (legs, trunk and arms) “TA” (trunk and arms) and “AS” (arms and shoulders). There are four medal events – two mixed-gender events (coxed four and double-sculls) plus the men’s and women’s single-sculls. Rowing events at London 2012’s Eton Dornay venue will all begin with heats, with two boats from each heat qualifying directly for the final. All remaining boats will then compete in two “repechages”, which offer a second chance to qualify for the final and row for gold.
Irish Interest
Ireland’s LTA Mixed Coxed Four of Kevin DuToit, Sarah Caffrey, Shane Ryan, Ann-Marie McDaid (coxed by Helen Arbuthnot) finished fifth in the 2011 World Rowing Championships. This ensured that Ireland qualified a boat for the first time ever at the Paralympic Games.
