Pararowing (or adaptive rowing) is a category ofrowing race for those with physical, visual or intellectualdisabilities.

In 1913, rowing for individuals with disabilities was initiated by headmaster George Clifford Brown atWorcester College for the Blind inGreat Britain.^[1] Brown encouraged blind students to participate in particular sports in which they would be able to compete at an equal level to sighted players and do so without modifications. Other organizations dedicated to rehabilitating the blind, such asSt. Dunstan's Hostel, started rowing clubs shortly afterwards in 1915. Competitive rowing with blind rowers first began in 1914 betweenWorcester College and theOld Boys in one race and Worcester College andWorcester Boy Scouts in another race the same year.^[1]

In October 1945, veterans from theUnited States Army,Navy, andMarines blinded duringWWII entered into the Navy Day Regatta on theSchuylkill River inPhiladelphia. Some consider this event as the catalyst for international interest of adaptive rowing.^[1]

UnderWorld Rowing rules there are three categories for adaptive rowers:

PR3 (previously LTA – Legs, Trunk, Arms)

Use of at least one leg, trunk and arms. Also for those withvisual andintellectual impairments. Rowed with standard boats and sliding seats.

PR2 (previously TA – Trunk and Arms)

Only use of trunk muscles. Boat has fixed seat.

PR1 (previously AS – Arms and Shoulders)

Limited trunk control. Boat has fixed seat and rower is strapped at upper chest level to only allow shoulder and arm movements.

At FISA World Championships there are now 9^[2] boat events (standardnomenclature is used).

Racing was held over 1,000 m (rather than the standard 2,000 m), but from 2017 the distance was changed to the standard 2,000m.^[4] In mixed events half the crew must be male and other half female (coxswain may be of either gender and may be able bodied). Single shells for the PR1 category must have stabilising pontoons attached to the riggers.

Adaptive events were added to theWorld Rowing Championships in 2002 and took place at the2008 Summer Paralympics inBeijing,China.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toPararowing.

• FISA Para-Rowing page
• Adaptive Rowing on International Paralympic Committee website
• Rowing Canada's Para-Rowing Page
• British Rowing's (UK) Domestic Adaptive Rowing Page
• USRowing's Domestic Adaptive Rowing Page

• Rowing
• Paralympic sports
• Parasports

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from March 2023
• Commons category link is on Wikidata