First Blind-only indoor rowing competition, South Korea

First Blind-only indoor rowing competition
15/4/05 12:42 PM


Copyright: Aerial Gilbert

Aerial Gilbert at the Korean Indoor Rowing Competition


Most people race indoor rowing competitions with their eyes firmly fixed to the small screen in front of them. Most people block out the sounds around them and focus solely on the countdown of the metres on that screen. At the first ever indoor rowing competition for the blind held in South Korea, participants focused instead on the sounds around them and the screen was replaced by volunteer coxswains, calling out the distance left to row.

Organised by Concept2's South Korean distributor, S. H. Han, blind people from across the country came together at Daegu University in the southeast of South Korea to race over a 500 and 1,000 metre distance.

The 90 participants ranged in age from 16 to 78 years old and none of them had any experience with rowing - on or off the water. Daegu University's crew team became the eyes of the participants assisting the competitors in learning the basics of the stroke and providing direction during the event to let competitors know how far they had rowed.

Every participant finished their race with winners being presented with plaques and flowers.

American blind rower Aerial Gilbert was flown in for the event as an example to the blind of South Korea and as a role model and Gilbert says the event was an extraordinary experience.

"They saw this as a unique opportunity for blind people to get to do a physical activity that they could do instantly," says Gilbert. "It gave them the opportunity to get to do it together as a group, and compete with each other."

Gilbert, who suddenly became blind 17 years ago at the age of 34, had rowed as a sighted person. She came back to the sport when she found that it was one of the few things in her life that she could do and feel competent at. Gilbert has since competed at the World Rowing Championships for the United States three times and raced in several other rowing events including a local race in a single.

"It was so successful, they want to hold it annually," says Gilbert who sees indoor rowing as a sporting experience that can be enjoyed by everyone."

The World Rowing team values feedback.

Xeno Muller, Olympic gold and silver medalist, indoor rowing, rowing technique.