Promising Para Rowing Prospects in Paris

The U.S. PR3 mixed four and mixed double head to the Paralympic Games as strong medal contenders. Are they good enough to beat the seemingly invincible Brits?

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The U.S. Paralympic four carried a seven-year silver medal streak through the Tokyo Games in 2021, broken by a fifth-place finish at the 2022 World Rowing Championships, and resumed at last year’s Worlds. It’s a streak they’d like to break again—by finally beating the British crew.

Great Britain’s Para fours are undefeated over 13 years, including the last three Paralympic gold medals. The GB lineup has changed over the years, while the results have not.

“The Brits are together for a long period. They come fully prepared,” said USRowing’s chief of high performance, Josy Verdonkschot.

The U.S. PR3 mixed four of Gemma Wollenschlaeger, Skylar Dahl, Alex Flynn, Benjamin Washburne, and Emelie Eldracher, along with the the U.S. PR3 mixed double of Todd Vogt and Saige Harper, head to the Paris Paralympic Games as strong medal contenders.

“Getting one medal would be the minimum,” said Verdonkschot of expectations in the lead-up to Paris. “If they equal the result of last year [two silvers at Worlds], it would be great.”

Coaching the U.S. Para double is Andrea Thies, a two-time Olympic athlete.

“The truth is when you go to the high-performance level, knowing what it feels like to be at the 1,000-meter mark, I know I can bring that into this. These Paralympic athletes don’t behave any differently. You don’t know what your capacities are until you actually come to the limit. They have a lot of potential. This is just the beginning.”

“Last year felt good,” said Alex Flynn, now in his second year in the four. “This year feels better.”

Para athletes face the same challenges as other athletes racing on the water—and overcome others getting there.

“We have different mobility levels and strength levels,” said Skylar Dahl, a member of the mixed four (two male and two female rowers). “So the rigging comes into play not just individually but throughout the whole boat.”

“Being in the boat—that exercise improves the quality of my life,” said Todd Vogt, stroke of the double, who has Parkinson’s. “When I get done rowing, my body feels really good for several hours afterward. The days I don’t row, my tremor will be a little exacerbated, and I might not move as well as I do otherwise.”

Vogt, who is married and lives in Portland, Ore., is training in Boston as he prepares for the Paralympic regatta, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.

“It does put a financial strain on our relationship, and I don’t get to see my wife.”

Vogt is also adapting to a change in the boat, as Wollenschlaeger and Harper swapped seats from last year’s medal-winning boats.

“We’re a good combination; our skills complement each other,” said Vogt of his new bow-seat partner. “I row with a longer stroke, and Saige is very explosive and dynamic. That works together.”

Also, “she steers way better than I do.”

In June, the four raced at World Rowing Cup III in Poznan, Poland, finishing second, again, to Great Britain, this time by six seconds—the margin had been less than three seconds at last year’s Worlds.

“They were a little bit disappointed about the result in Poznan; I would be as well,” said Verdonkschot. “Obviously, having such young people also means that a lot of them were still rowing in their collegiate programs, so that gives you only a little preparation before the World Cup. Still, it was very good for them, because it’s a reminder how fast it should be.”

“Josy and USRowing have really done a great job with Ellen [Minzner, director of Para High Performance] (interview, page 48) to create a program for us,” said Tom Siddall, coach of the Para four. “He is super helpful in creating the program for us and then giving us the flexibility to run it on a day-to-day basis and make changes as needed.”

As for how the crew will fare in Paris?

“It’s not going to be for lack of effort,” Siddall said. “It’s just, Can we get it right on the day?”

Verndonkschot agrees, noting the young U.S. Para squad is still gaining speed, while the British “will not make another big step, whereas we can.”

“And then it can become tight. And when it’s tight, you just have to remember that you’re American. So you just go for it. Period.”   

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