Rowing world champ Erik Horrie striving for equal recognition for para and able-bodied athletes

Five-time world rowing champion Erik Horrie is determined to see para and able-bodied athletes recognised as equals

Erik Horrie won his fifth world rowing championship this year. He says the sport’s decision to bring para competition distance in line with able-bodied competition is a great step towards equal recognition between para and able-bodied athletes. Picture: Angelo Velardo

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He may be a five-time world rowing champion, but Penrith’s Erik Horrie says he won’t be satisfied in the sport until para-athletes are recognised as equal to able-bodied athletes.

The 39-year-old furthered his legacy as one of Australia’s greatest rowers this year by claiming gold in the PR1 M1x single sculls at the world championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria last month.

Adding to his success is the fact that the former Australian wheelchair basketballer sustained his dominance in the water after the sport last year switched from 1000m to 2000m, with Horrie setting two world records at the extended distance.

Horrie pictured competing in the 2014 world championships.

Horrie said the decision to extend the para races was welcomed by the athletes as it brought the para competition in line with the able-bodied competition.

“It’s probably one of the biggest changes in the history of the sport,” Horrie said.

“Paralympic athletes want to be recognised the same as Olympic athletes. People don’t realise we do exactly the same training as able-bodied athletes and this means there’s no longer any physical difference between able-bodied and para-rowers.

“It definitely hurts a lot more but it’s also opened up a lot more doors for us, so that’s a huge step forward in the right direction.”

Despite being at the very pinnacle of rowing for such a long time, Horrie said he’s still just as driven as he was when he first got into the boat.

Despite his extensive success in the sport, Horrie says he still loves it just as much as the first time he got in the boat. Picture: Angelo Velardo

“What we’re doing is working to push the boundaries of what the body can handle,” he said.

“I’m also continually learning more things every time I get in the boat. You never get the same conditions. Water temperature and wind can be completely different from one race to the next.

“More than anything, I just love being in the boat.

“Just sitting in the boat and hearing the water move around you. Even when you’re racing, it’s such a peaceful experience.”