Ayers and Altschwager Secure Australia's First Para-Rowing Gold

Rowsellas Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager made history by winning the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls event at Vaires-sur-Marne, claiming Australia's first-ever Paralympic Gold medal in para-rowing.

Coached by Chad King and Christine MacLaren, the double became the first crew to win gold in this event.

“From when Jed and I first got into this, we sat down with our coaches and said what our goals were and what we were aiming for,” Nikki Ayers said. 

“The two things we wanted to be were undeniable and unbeatable and we showed that today… it shows that all that hard work paid off.  

“Super proud we can call ourselves Paralympic champions now.  We’ve broken a few milestones with the PR3 mixed doubles making its debut at the Paralympics and for Australia.”  

On a landmark day for Australian para-rowing, Erik Horrie OAM added a Bronze medal in the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls event to his collection, which already includes three Paralympic Silver medals, making him the most decorated Australian Paralympic athlete of all time. 

“I’m very honoured to put on the green and gold,” Horrie said. “To get out there and represent your country, to hear your name called out when they say ‘Australia’ I just feel so privileged.   

“This Games was unbelievable, the crowd and all the support and all the organisation from Paris throughout… it’s up there as one of the best. 

“I’m not hanging up the blades any time soon, I love rowing, but when it comes to all that [whether he goes to LA 2028] I’ll sit down the wife and the kids to make the decision.” 

Despite finishing fourth, Horrie, also coached by Chad King, was promoted to Bronze after Italy's crew was excluded for breaching Rule 28 and Appendix R2, Bye-Law to Rule 28, by using communications equipment during the race.

In the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four, Toby Goffsassen, Tom Birtwhistle, Al Viney, Susannah Lutze, and coxswain Hannah Cowap, coached by James Loveday, finished fifth in the Final A.

The crew earned their spot in the final after winning their repechage the day before, securing their position as the fifth-best in the world.

Australia’s Paris 2024 Paralympic Para-Rowing Medal Tally

Gold – One

Silver – Zero

Bronze – One

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The full Para-Rowing results can be found here: Paris 2024 Para Rowing