Adaptive rowing
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Adaptive rowing is a special category of rowing races for those with physical disabilities. Under FISA rules there are three categories for adaptive rowers:
- LTA - Legs, Trunk, Arms
- Use of at least one leg, trunk and arms. Also for those with visual and intellectual impairments. Rowed with standard boats and sliding seats.
- TA - Trunk and Arms
- Only use of trunk muscles. Boat has fixed seat.
- A - Arms only
- Limited trunk control. Boat has fixed seat and rower is strapped at upper chest level to only allow shoulder and arm movements.
At FISA events there are 4 boat events (standard nomenclature is used):
- 4+ Mixed LTA
- 2x Mixed TA
- 1x Men A
- 1x Women A
Racing is held over 1,000 m (rather than the standard 2,000 m). In mixed events half the crew must be male and other half female (coxswain maybe of either gender and may be able bodied). Single shells for the Arms Only category must have stabilising pontoons attached to the riggers.
Adaptive events were added to the World Rowing Championships in 2002 and are due to take place at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China.
