The search is on for a female PR1 rower ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

The GB Rowing Team Paralympic coaches are looking for a female to join the squad ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

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c. Simon Way

With the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games 19 months away, British Rowing has a unique opportunity for someone to race for the GB Rowing Team at the Games in Tokyo.

To book a spot on the plane, you need to be a female and classify in the PR1 category.

The PR1 classification is for anyone who has an incomplete spinal cord lesion, a complete T12 spinal cord lesion or bilateral above knee amputee. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make an impact on the world’s stage in rowing, with the Paralympic Games just around the corner.

Paralympic lead coach Tom Dyson is encouraging females with impairments to come forward for testing to earn a place on the GB Rowing Team.

“We’re quite confident that if we find the right person we can work with them to deliver some really successful results. This is a real opportunity for someone to step into this boat class, in which we have won two of the three previous Paralympic titles, and to continue that success,” he said.

Dyson is keen to point out that applicants do not necessarily need to have rowed before, but must have the right physical and mental attributes to develop into a world-class rower.

“The sort of person we’re looking for is someone who is out and about in the great outdoors, looking to be involved in something because they want to be physically active. They don’t have to have performed at a high level in sport before, but they should at least be used to spending their weekends being active and challenging themselves physically.”

“We’ve spotted talent and developed that person into a world-class rower a number of times before. It’s a proven system. If you have the physical talent, a driven mentality, the right disability and the get-up-and-go for it, it’s absolutely possible to book that seat on the plane to Tokyo.”

For more information about Para-rowing and how you could sign-up for testing, email [email protected] or visit our dedicated section of the website.