Athletes Without Limits is looking for talented athletes with intellectual disability to represent the US at upcoming national and international indoor and on-water rowing events.
Rowing is one of a handful of sports with emerging opportunities for athletes with intellectual disability to compete at a high level at National and International events including the 2016 Paralympics. If you are interested in rowing opportunities athletes with intellectual disability, please contact us at info@athleteswithoutlimits.org. For a complete list of USRowing Events, which may offer opportunities for the newly recognized “ID” class visit: www.usrowing.org.
Join the Athletes Without Limits Rowing Team (DC, Maryland, Virginia)
Athletes Without Limits has partnered with DC Strokes, the US Paralympic Military Program and USRowing’s America Rows program to start an Athletes Without Limits Rowing Team! If you live in the DC, Maryland or Virginia area and are interested in participating in our learn to row program please contact us.
Other Rowing Opportunities throughout the US
Athletes Without Limits supports the identification and development of US rowers with intellectual disability—please contact us if you are interested in learning more about rowing opportunities in the US. The USRowing website provides a list of rowing clubs by area. Interested athletes should register for a learn to row (sweep boats) program at their local rowing club. The website also contains information on how to qualify for the US National Teams (which is the path toward qualifying for the US Paralympic Rowing team in 2016). Please contact us if you know of or need help finding opportunities for rowers with intellectual disability to train and compete.
INAS Rowing with Athletes Without Limits
The International Federation for Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Disability (INAS) introduced indoor rowing (1,000m on a stationary ergometer) as a demonstration sport at the 2009 Global Games. US swimmer Gail Morning ranked in the top 12 on the 1,000m ergometer challenge! For the 2011 Global Games there will be both erg and on-water demonstration competitions.
The first INAS sanctioned Indoor World Rowing Championships was held in Hong Kong on November 16-21, 2009 (registration deadline has passed). There are 4 distances 500m, 1000m, 2000m and a 4×500m relay. Athletes will be divided by gender and age groups: Junior (Up to 18), Under 23, and Senior (23+). Additional events, including the 2nd INAS Indoor World Rowing Championships are being planned.
Athletes Without Limits will organize a trips to INAS rowing events based on athlete interest. Interested athletes must work with Athletes Without Limits, the US Member of INAS, to become INAS registered prior to competing in any INAS rowing event (See Eligibility).
All INAS rowing competitions are held according to the rules of and officiated by the International Federation of Rowing Associations (FISA) and INAS. As with all INAS competitions, only the top athletes in each event win; there are no separate divisions by ability level as in Special Olympic events.
FISA & Paralympic Rowing (Coxed 4)
In addition to INAS rowing competitions, there are FISA sanctioned rowing events (on water) that are open to INAS-registered athletes. The International Federation of Rowing Associations (FISA) promotes the inclusion of athletes with intellectual disabilities into mainstream rowing world championships by including an adaptive rowing classification for a mixed coxed four for athletes with intellectual disability (LTAIDMix4+) racing 1,000 meters. Read more about adaptive rowing at FISA’s website.
Paralympic Rowing
Following the November 2009 vote to re-include athletes with intellectual disability into Paralympic competition, rowing is one of the inclusive sports with a mixed gender coxed 4 racing over 1,000 meters. US rowers with intellectual disability will have the opportunity to qualify to represent the US at the London 2016 Games. More information will be posted as it becomes available, however the IPC has stated that meeting INAS eligibility criteria (which is managed by Athletes Without Limits in the US) is the first step toward obtaining a FISA/Paralympic “ID” rowing classification. The competition path toward making the US Paralympic Team in rowing is through US Rowing’s National Team programs (see below).
Rowing News & Events
Athletes Without Limits Spring Break Rowing Camp
On Water Rowing Camp for Athletes with Intellectual Disability April 4-7, 2012 Anacostia Community Boathouse Washington, DC Download the PDF Flyer Learn more and register by emailing rowing@athleteswithoutlimits.org Athletes Without Limits is hosting an on-water 4-day training camp for athletes with intellectual disability interested in rowing with our 2012 Rowing Team at local and national regattas. Following the camp,athletes who do not live in the DC area can train at their respective boathouses and race with the team at...
read moreAustin Rowing Camp for Athletes with Intellectual Disability
March 25-27, 2011: Austin TX. This 3-day Development Camp will help adult athletes with intellectual disabilities to increase their individual rowing technique; build rowing confidence; provide opportunities to row in a team boat and is part of selection process for US National Team.
read more50+ Athletes with Disability Compete at C.R.A.S.H.-B. Indoor Rowing Sprints
Event shows great promise for integration of athletes with intellectual, physical, and visual disabilities into prominent sporting events Boston, MA – Over 50 athletes with disabilities competed amongst the 2,200+ total participants at the 2012 C.R.A.S.H.-B. Sprints, an annual indoor rowing competition that took place earlier today at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. Competitors rowed 1,000 or 2,000 meters against the clock on sponsor Concept2 ergometers in various categories including Men’s and Women’s Open, Lightweight,...
read moreAthletes Without Limits Partners with Champion System Custom Apparel
October 26, 2011 – Athletes Without Limits has partnered with Champion System Worldwide Custom Technical Apparel, as official clothing supplier for 2011-2012. Athletes Without Limits works to help athletes with intellectual disability integrate and accelerate in sports and in life and together with Champion System will work to raise awareness and promote inclusiveness in sport for individuals of all abilities. In addition to supplying the technical gear for the 2011 Global Games Team USA athletes participating in cycling, rowing and...
read more2012 CrashB Sprints Indoor Rowing Championships
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Boston University’s Agganis Arena
Members of the Athletes Without Limits/DC Strokes Rowing Team will participate.
Open to individual entries.
2012 Mid-Atlantic Erg Sprints
Sunday February 4, 2012
Alexandria, Va
Members of the Athletes Without Limits/DC Strokes Rowing team will be competing.
For information about the event visit www.ergsprints.com.
Head of the Occoquan
November 5-6, 2011
Sandy Run Park, VA
Members of the Athletes Without Limits/DC Strokes Rowing team will be competing.
For further information about the regatta visit the Occoquan Boat Club website.
Lea Leads Team USA with Two World Championship Gold Medals at Global Games in Italy
October 10, 2011 Washington, DC - Six elite athletes with intellectual disability represented the United States at the INAS Global Games World Championships in Italy from September 24 - October 3. Nearly 700 athletes from 40 countries competed in swimming, athletics, tennis, basketball, indoor soccer, cycling, and table tennis. The Global Games are a major preparatory competition for the London 2012 Paralympic Games where for the first time since 2000 people with intellectual disability will be compete in swimming, table tennis, and athletics.
read moreGlobal Games World Championships for Para-Athletes with Intellectual Disability Begins in Italy
September 29, 2011 Loano, Italy — The competition for the team of US athletes at the 2011 INAS/IPC Global Games in Liguria Italy began today when swimmers Leslie Cichocki and Sarah Gilbert took to the water at Palasporte, the 50m outdoor competition pool in Loano, Italy.
read moreUS Athletes Without Limits Head to Italy for Global Games
September 1, 2011 – Athletes Without Limits, a nonprofit dedicated to helping athletes with intellectual disability integrate and accelerate in sport, is proud to announce a strong US National team for the 2011 INAS Global Games. The Games are the world championship for athletes with intellectual disability and a key qualifier in Swimming, Track & Field for London 2012 Paralympic Games. Athletes Without Limits will be leading a team of six athletes to Liguria, Italy, for the prestigious international event that takes place every 4 years...
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Spring Break Training Camp
We’re hosting a Spring Break Rowing Camp for athletes with intellectual disability in Washington DC April 4-7, 2012. Train from the Anacostia Community Boathouse with our award-winning rowing team...
