Coastal Rowing Beach Sprints is making its Olympic and Paralympic debut in the then 2028 Summer Los Angelas Paralympics. Im hoping to be able to be competitive enough to trial for the Australian Squad in the coming years when Rowing Australia go through there selection criteria.

Im 38 years old and I was born with Cerebral Palsy. The youngest of twins. The first 12 years of grown up was difficult. My parent went against the advise of the doctors and decided against putting me in a wheelchair as they were told I would never walk, I would never talk.

My parents enrolled me in normal streamline school and ensured I was getting frequent speech therapy and physiotheraphy. There was many times over the first 12 years I would experience hardship in school for being different. My parents and I were determined to assist in any way to give me a normal life.

I would continue my development, albeit with some speech and walking disabilities and successfully complete primary and secondary education. I started rowing at the age of 12 and I entered an apprenticeship as a mechanic in 2004.

In 2011 I decided to move to Australia and I continued my passion for rowing. in early 2012, I became active in Para Rowing.

With 28 years competitive experience at all levels of flat water rowing I am hoping I can bring a competitive edge to the sport of coastal rowing. I have been rowing for 28 years and I have been competing in Australia since 2012. The range of competition includes local, state, and national for flat water rowing with 6 seperate selections from New South Wales and Western Australia to represent them in the interstate races in the Mens Para Scull race.

I have also competed at indoor rowing in both Australia, Ireland, the European championships and world championships where I have finished 4th in fourth in both international competitions.

With support by way of donations I hope my initial purchase will be a Coastal Double. These boats are significantly different to flat water boats as are considerably wider than your standard flat water hull. This is to cater for ocean conditions. With this boat living on the south coast of New South Wales , I will use the beaches around Shellharbour to give me the perfect opportunity to train on. Training will also be on lake Illawarra where I train for flat water rowing and where I will continue my training also.

With different venues required for training being mobile will become aspect to adequate training and competitions. Storage will be in local shed and there will be a requirement to travel. Currently Im using our family car but it is not adequate for the long term plan. For this reason I will look at the second market to get a ute and trailer to get established.