Para-rowing is rowing or sculling open to both male and female rowers with a disability who meet the criteria set out in the Para-rowing Classification Regulations and Bye-Laws. Para-rowing was formerly called adaptive rowing and was first raced at the 2002 World Rowing Championships in Seville. 

It was introduced into the Paralympic programme in 2005 and at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games it was held for the first time. The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games had 26 countries competing in para-rowing for 12 medals in four boat classes. There was a total of 48 boats and 96 rowers. The medals were spread among seven countries with Great Britain winning the most medals.

Para-rowing is uniquely integrated with the World Rowing Federation, FISA, and para-rowers participate alongside able-bodied athletes at some of the World Rowing Cups and the World Rowing Championships each year.  With several new event added in 2017, para-rowing is currently divided into nine boat classes:

PR3 : mixed coxed four, mixed double sculls, men's pair, women's pair
PR2 : mixed double sculls, men's single sculls, women's single sculls
PR1 : men's single sculls, women's single sculls 

Starting in 2017, the race distance changed from 1000m to 2000m for all events.

Athletes seeking an international classification must first be pre-classified in order to determine eligibility and the sport class. Athletes that need to be pre-classified are required to submit FISA medical diagnostic forms and additional medical documents to FISA for evaluation. Until 2017 this has been done via email, but from now on the documents must be directly uploaded to the new FISA Online Classification Portal. The Online Portal indicates the required documents that must be provided to be pre-classified for an impairment. Note that the Chief Classifier will only be notified to perform the pre-classification once all the required forms have been uploaded. The Portal also serves as a secure environment to store the athletes’ medical data.

Access to the Portal is restricted to the FISA member federations. Instructions have been sent to the federations on how to use this new system. If these have not reached the federation yet, please contact FISA: databases@fisa.org

Classification Eligibility Guide

FISA has created an online tool to help potential para athletes determine their eligibility for para rowing and to give an indication of what sport class they may be eligible for. The online tool is available here: Classification Eligibility Guide

Please be advised that the tool provides an indication only. The actual sport class can only be determined after pre-classification and consequently international classification by a FISA panel before an event.

For any questions regarding classification please contact: classification@fisa.org

Master classification list - updated February 2019

International Classifiers List UPDATED March 2018

2017 Para-rowing classifiers manual

2017 Para-rowing consent form

FISA Classification Information Sheet

Eligible Impairment Types and Medical Diagnostic Requirements

FISA Advanced Classification Workshop - Sept 2018

Para-Rowing Event Regulations and/or Departures from the FISA Rules of Racing

2018 Appendix 18 - Para Rowing Competition Regulations

2018 Appendix 19 - Para Rowing Classification Regulations

Medical Diagnostics Form for Athletes with Visual Impairments

FISA Medical Diagnostics Form 2017

Coaching and Technical Documents

Wolfson Report - Review of para-rowing equipment

Wolfson Report - Summary review of para-rowing equipment

2013 Chungju World Championships Para-Rowing Equipment Overview

Para-Rowing Boat Equipment Overview London 2012

FISA Para Rowing Equipment List 2013

Rigging survey Adaptive Paralympic 2016 POG FINAL

Complete inclusion of adaptive (Para) rowing is only 1000M ahead - click here. 
- Tomislav Smoljanovic and the FISA Medical Commission

Capsize and recovery drill by British Rowing - Video

If you are interested in hosting a coaching workshop, please contact Simon Goodey at simon@simongoodey.co.uk. If you are interested in hosting a classification workshop, please contact classification@fisa.org.