USRowing CEO Statement on the Paralympics and the Future

The Paralympic races concluded on Sunday with silver for Team USA in the PR3 mixed four with coxswain and our PR3 mixed double sculls won the B Final in the first Paralympic regatta to host an event for this boat classification.

I want to acknowledge and thank all of our athletes for their persistence, commitment, and dedication to their Paralympic goals. It is a proud moment to see two boats of first time Paralympians have their years of dedication to the sport recognized and rewarded on such a stage. Many of our Paralympians balanced careers and college and still performed at a high level, and we hope to see many of these athletes continue their Paralympic journeys in LA 2028. 

The medal for the PR3 mixed four with coxswain is the third time in a row that the U.S. has won silver and the fourth overall in the event, coming just short of the winners from Great Britain. Team USA has earned at least one paralympic medal every Games since rowing’s introduction in 2008, the silver in Paris was the 6th of all time.

I would like to thank Ellen Minzner, all of our coaches, and the support staff for their tireless work in developing the Para national team. Ellen’s dedication to creating opportunities for Para rowing over the past decade has continued to elevate the caliber of Para athletes across the country. Ellen’s incredible work was recognized by the USOPC as the 2023 Paralympic Coach of the Year, the third woman in history to receive the award and the first high performance USRowing coach to be honored with a USOPC coaching award. She was also honored by the PR3 mixed four with coxswain with the Order of Ikkos; she previously received the honor in 2016. 

I would also like to give a special thanks and congratulations to Tom Siddall, the coach of the PR3 mixed four with coxswain and winner of the Order of Ikkos. Tom coached the crew to an Olympic silver in Paris. 

As we look ahead, we will continue to open more boathouse doors to Para athletes, and to push to identify rowers who classify as Para athletes as well. If you are interested in learning about classification for the Para team or learning how to be a Para coach, you can learn more here. Rowing is able to accommodate so many people and abilities, let’s continue to work together to make the sport more accessible to all. 

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our supporters, staff, board members, USRowing Foundation trustees, partners, and donors. We are so grateful for your contributions and look forward to the successful years to come. 

With Gratitude, 

Amanda Kraus