Paralympic Games
Great Britain has won gold medals in rowing at every Paralympic Games since the sport was first added to the programme
Credit: Benedict Tufnell / British Rowing
The GB Rowing Team has won gold medals at every Paralympic Games since it was added to the programme: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
| Paralympic regatta | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris 2024 | PR1 M1x PR2 Mix2x PR3 Mix4+ | PR3 Mix2x | 4 | |
| Tokyo 2020 | PR2 Mix 2x PR3 Mix 4+ | 2 | ||
| Rio 2016 | AS W1x TA Mix2x LTA Mix4+ | AS M1x | 4 | |
| London 2012 | LTA Mix4+ | 1 | ||
| Beijing 2008 | AS W1x AS M1x | LTA Mix4+ | 3 |
- Paralympic regatta:
- Paris 2024
- Gold:
- PR1 M1x
PR2 Mix2x
PR3 Mix4+ - Silver:
- PR3 Mix2x
- Bronze:
- --
- Total:
- 4
- Paralympic regatta:
- Tokyo 2020
- Gold:
- PR2 Mix 2x
PR3 Mix 4+ - Silver:
- --
- Bronze:
- --
- Total:
- 2
- Paralympic regatta:
- Rio 2016
- Gold:
- AS W1x
TA Mix2x
LTA Mix4+ - Silver:
- --
- Bronze:
- AS M1x
- Total:
- 4
- Paralympic regatta:
- London 2012
- Gold:
- LTA Mix4+
- Silver:
- --
- Bronze:
- --
- Total:
- 1
- Paralympic regatta:
- Beijing 2008
- Gold:
- AS W1x
AS M1x - Silver:
- --
- Bronze:
- LTA Mix4+
- Total:
- 3
The Paralympic Games take place once every four years and are an elite, multi-sport event for athletes with physical impairments including those with mobility issues, amputations, visual impairment, and Erb’s or Cerebral Palsy.
Paralympic rowing is open to male and female rowers, and from Paris 2024 includes five events (whose names have changed over the years), which are also part of the World Championship programme:
| Category | Boat Class | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Women | PR1 W1x | Arms and shoulders only single scull |
| Men | PR1 M1x | Arms and shoulders only single scull |
| Mixed | PR2 Mix2x PR3 Mix2x PR3 Mix4+ | Trunk and arms mixed double scull Legs, trunk and arms mixed double scull Legs, trunk and arms mixed coxed four |
- Category:
- Women
- Boat Class:
- PR1 W1x
- Description:
- Arms and shoulders only single scull
- Category:
- Men
- Boat Class:
- PR1 M1x
- Description:
- Arms and shoulders only single scull
- Category:
- Mixed
- Boat Class:
- PR2 Mix2x
PR3 Mix2x
PR3 Mix4+ - Description:
- Trunk and arms mixed double scull
Legs, trunk and arms mixed double scull
Legs, trunk and arms mixed coxed four
Visit our Paris 2024 Paralympic Rowing Regatta hub page >>
As in all sports, performance at elite level takes dedication and talent to become the best.
Impairments that typically do well at the elite level in rowing are:
- Fixed ankles or wrists.
- Erb’s Palsy or Cerebral Palsy.
- Talipes.
- Visual impairments (B2/B3).
- Lower limb amputations (above or below the knee as well as single or double).
- Incomplete spinal cord injury.
- Complete spinal cord injury (thoracic region).
Some characteristics that may increase chances of success are:
- Height, weight and arm span – big numbers!
- Previous endurance sports background (able bodied or disabled) such as rowing, cycling, swimming.
- Tradition of sport in the family.
- Desire, commitment and determination.
