How a cheating scandal engulfed rowing before Aussie power duo won gold

Paris: Cheating accusations have rocked Paralympic rowing after an Italian athlete was disqualified for having his phone on his boat during a crucial race, making way for Australia’s Erik Horrie to snag a bronze medal.

Shortly afterwards, power duo Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager won Australia’s first ever gold medal for para-rowing, cementing Paris 2024 as the country’s most successful year yet for Paralympic rowing, having never previously landed more than one medal in the sport at a single Games.

Erik Horrie on the boat after his final.Credit: Paralympics Australia

Horrie, already a Paralympic veteran with three silver medals to his name, won Paris bronze in the men’s single sculls (PR1) after lodging a protest against Italian rower Giacomo Perini, who crossed the finish line third.

An official statement issued by Paris 2024 organisers said Perini was found to be using communications equipment during the race – a breach of competition rules.

“As a result, the crew has been excluded from the event and will be ranked last,” the statement said.

Team Italy has since appealed, claiming that Perini simply forgot his phone was on the boat.

British rower Benjamin Pritchard, who came first in Horrie’s race, was shocked given communication devices were forbidden.

“If you’re breaking the rules, you shouldn’t be on the podium,” he said.

Pritchard said receiving communication on the whereabouts of opponents could give athletes in his classification an advantage.

“With our disabilities, we can’t look around. I can’t turn behind me,” he said.

“But I don’t know why you would try something like that in the Paralympic final.”

Erik Horrie (right) won bronze after a controversial finish in the PR1 men’s single sculls.Credit: Getty Images

Horrie could be seen fervently speaking to officials as soon as the race ended.

He was reluctant to talk in detail to reporters about what unfolded, explaining that he and Perini were friends off the water.

“I was asked about it [by officials], and I gave an answer, and then they made their decision from what they’ve seen, and then what I said to them,” he said.

“The officials made the decision. It wasn’t my decision and I’ve come away with the bronze.”

Horrie said that as athletes, they had to follow the rules.

“We get told that we’re allowed a StrokeCoach (a stroke measuring device) in our boat and a water bottle and a towel, and that’s pretty much it, nothing else,” he said.

Horrie said it felt “unbelievable” to help make history with Australia’s best day of Paralympic rowing, particularly at the age of 44. He said he hoped to encourage others to chase their dreams.

“To come away with a medal, I’m very honoured and very privileged,” he said.

“A lot of people didn’t think I’d ever get to this level ... It’s about what’s inside your heart and believing in yourself.”

Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager celebrating their win.Credit: Paralympics Australia

Meanwhile, Ayers and Altschwager dominated the mixed double sculls final (PR3) in seven minutes, 26.74 seconds, just under two seconds faster than the Brits.

The pair were favourite to win after they took last year’s world championship title and beat the world’s best time by 20 seconds.

“It’s still sinking in, but I’m just super proud that we can call ourselves Paralympic champions now,” said Ayers, 33.

It’s a massive achievement for two athletes who only paired up in 2023.

Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager are Australia’s first ever para-rowing gold medallists.Credit: Getty Images

Ayers and Altschwager met in 2017 and were both competing in para-rowing at an international level, but it wasn’t until March last year that their magic combination was forged.

Altschwager, 37, vividly recalls the “really special” phone call where they agreed to team up.

“It was like, ‘What do you reckon, mate?’ … and we made a commitment to each other. It was incredible,” he said.

After finishing their final, Ayers pulled her teammate backwards into a long hug.

“It was every emotion at once and it’s something I’ll never forget,” Altschwager said.

Their rapid rise has required a close bond. Ayers moved to Adelaide so they could train easily together and they embraced their friendship.

“One of the keys to us is just being vulnerable in this relationship and having open, honest conversations to make it a safe space,” Ayers said.

She said their pairing made perfect sense as they both developed their disabilities in traumatic accidents about 12 months apart.

Ayers was injured playing rugby union in 2016. She lost feeling in her foot and underwent 16 surgeries after she dislocated her knee, severing an artery and a nerve in her right leg.

Altschwager lost his lower leg in a workplace accident when an excavator crushed his left foot.

“We had similar trauma and for me, the moment I met Jed, he changed my life,” Ayers said.

“I was really struggling to accept my leg and who I was now as a person with a disability. And it was just one conversation with Jed … he completely changed my mindset and instead of being ashamed and trying to cover my leg, I learnt to embrace it.”

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