GB para-rowers to get early feel for Rio 2016
The GB Rowing Team’s para-rowers will get an early feel for Rio 2016 when they fly out to a Paralympic Orientation Camp in Brazil this weekend.
Karon Phillips/Intersport Images
After helping Britain become the only nation to qualify four boats for the Paralympic Games at the recent World Championships, some squad members will get the opportunity to visit the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo – the host venue for both the Olympic and Paralympic regattas next summer.
As well as use the rowing club’s facilities for training, the rowers will get to see the Maracana Stadium and other venues being used at the Paralympic Games from September 7-18 2016.
They will also visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue which overlooks the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the spectacular lake being used for rowing at the Rio Games.
Travelling to the five-day camp are Beijing 2008 arms-shoulders men’s single scull championTom Aggar and the mixed coxed four that recently retained their World Championship title –Grace Clough, Dan Brown, Pamela Relph, James Fox and cox Oliver James.
Mixed para-rowing four will race in Poznan. Copyright: Intersport Images
Peter Spurrier/Intersport ImagesTom Dyson, the GB Rowing Team Paralympic Programme Lead Coach, said: “Only one of the group has visited Rio before, so it will be good for them all to see the city and environment they will be competing in.
“They will have the chance to experience the things that might otherwise throw them on arrival and they will also get a feel for the climate at this time of year.
“It is the start of the Paralympic season, so it will be nice for the rowers to get excited about what they are working towards in the year ahead.”
The GB Rowing Team para-rowing squad is supported by the National Lottery and Guide Dogs.
