Adaptive rowing classification

Adaptive rowing has three broad classifications based on a rower's functional ability.

[1] There was also previously a mixed boat classification called LTAIDMix4+, which included rowers with intellectual disabilities.

[4] British Rowing defines two types of rowers with disabilities: Adaptive rowing was taking place in France by 1971, with two classes of rowers initially participating: people with visual disabilities and people recovering from polio.

People recovering from polio in France used boats with pontoons in order to increase their stability.

Classification was not something developed in France in this era as there was a focus on integrating rowers into the regular rowing community.

Attempts were then made to customise equipment to suit an individual rower's specific needs as they related to their disability.

[8] Adaptive rowing in the United States began in 1981 with the catamaran being the boat first used by rowers with a disability.

The first FISA recognised adaptive rowing World Cup event took place in 1991 and held in the Netherlands.

This policy was put into place in 2014, with the goal of avoiding last minute changes in classes that would negatively impact athlete training preparations.

All competitors needed to be internationally classified with their classification status confirmed prior to the Games, with exceptions to this policy being dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

[21] Going forward, disability sport's major classification body, the International Paralympic Committee, is working on improving classification to be more of an evidence-based system as opposed to a performance-based system so as not to punish elite athletes whose performance makes them appear in a higher class alongside competitors who train less.