Rowers Celebrate Disability Pride Month
Channel: Charlotte Pierce
Date: 2022-07-26

Guests: Kerry Kingdon, para athlete, coach, and designer @teamtsunami6 & Patrick Johnson, Rowing Director at Athletes Without Limits.

Kerry Kingdon went from ultra marathoner to being told she could no longer run. After eventually being diagnosed with POTS and IST, she received treatment that made her feel ready for competition again. She took a position as adaptive coach at Bair Island Aquatic Center, where she runs an adaptive erg class and rows. She won gold at Indoor National Championships in 2022, 2021, and 2019, Silver at Masters’ Nationals in 2018 and Crew Classic 2019 (PR2 Double).

Coach Patrick Johnson has played a critical leadership role helping Athletes Without Limits achieve its mission for the inclusion of athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities into mainstream sport. Patrick heads up the Athletes Without Limits (AWL)/DC Strokes/Veteran Leaders integrated rowing program, which is also a USRowing Freedom Rows designated Adaptive Program for Disabled Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces. In 2019 Patrick received USRowing’s Isabel Bohn Award for expanding rowing opportunities for those with physical and intellectual disabilities.

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