Rowing at the Summer Paralympics
Rowing at the Summer Paralympics has been part of the competition since the 2008 Summer Paralympics. Rowing as a sport has been part of the Summer Olympics since 1896 Summer Olympics. Pararowing at the Paralympics is under the jurisdiction of the International Rowing Federation the same as the Olympics.
Race distances
Through the 2016 Rio Paralympics all races were raced over a 1000 m straight course. Beginning with the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, competition is raced over the same 2000 m course as the Olympics.Qualification
There is a limited number of crews permitted to race, so the International Rowing Federation holds qualification events in order to determine who competes at the Paralympic Games. At the Paralympic Games, each National Olympic Committee can only have one boat per event.Medalists
As of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, the most successful Paralympic rower is Great Britain's Lauren Rowles, the only para rower with three Games gold medals, all achieved in the mixed double sculls. While a Great Britain team has won four consecutive mixed coxed four gold medals, itself a record for an individual event, no rower has appeared in that team more than twice. Five British rowers have won two gold medals.The only non-British rower with two gold medals is the Ukrainian single sculler, Roman Polianskyi in 2016 and 2021, and who added a silver in 2024, making him the most successful male rower in Paralympic history. Australian single sculler Erik Horrie is the most decorated para rowing athlete with four medals, three silvers and a bronze, and the only medalist across four editions of the Games, but is yet to win gold.
Men
Single sculls - 2008–Women
Single sculls - 2008–Mixed
Mixed double sculls AD - 2008–2020In 2024, the mixed double sculls was split into two events;
- the Mix2xPR2, which included most of the previous double scullers, and
- the higher ability Mix2xPR3 class
Mixed double sculls PR3 - 2020–
Mixed cox four - 2008–