Boats for Para-Sports in Warsaw

About an Unusual Collaboration Between Rowers and the Disabled Sports Community in Warsaw

On February 22, the Steinmühle welcomed visitors from Poland. Our coach Martin Strohmenger, who has a strong network in the rowing community, had realized while sorting through his fleet of boats that, for competitive reasons, some of his boats had been out of the water for some time; at the same time, he was aware of the great need for boats for Paralympic rowing in Warsaw. Long story short: in consultation with our partner Blista, it was agreed to transfer ownership of four boats to the Polish rowers with disabilities. German triathlete Ulrike Fuhrmann has been involved there for some time and, along with a colleague, was able to pick up the boats in February.

There will be an official handover/christening ceremony for the boats in Warsaw. The German Embassy in Warsaw will be in attendance; Verena Bentele, the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Matters Related to People with Disabilities and a twelve-time Paralympic champion in biathlon and cross-country skiing, has confirmed her attendance; and the Paralympic Committee in Berlin also plans to support Paralympic sports in Warsaw.