“`html
The Bayada Regatta, recognized as one of the world’s largest and longest-running rowing competitions for athletes with disabilities, will take place on September 27 at the Camden County Boathouse in Pennsauken. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with free admission and parking available for spectators. The competition features adaptive rowing equipment and includes single, double, and sweep races with four rowers and a coxswain per boat.
Participants in the regatta train year-round with local rowing clubs before competing at this prestigious annual event. Athletes range from beginners to Paralympians, showcasing diverse skill levels in adaptive sports. According to Bayada CEO Bryony Winn, the regatta began four decades ago as the first rowing competition exclusively for people with disabilities, continuing a meaningful tradition of supporting exceptional athletes.
Among this year’s competitors is Philadelphia Fire Department member Carlos Santory, 30, whose story exemplifies the event’s impact. Following a motorcycle accident in winter 2025 that resulted in amputation of his left leg, Santory underwent intensive physical therapy and was introduced to adaptive rowing through his occupational therapist. He joined the Philadelphia Adaptive Rowing club and will compete in his second Bayada Regatta this year, planning to row with his prosthetic after months of training on the Schuylkill River.
Santory credits rowing and the adaptive sports community with helping him rebuild his life. “I lost a lot from the accident, but I also gained a lot,” he reflected. “I found this whole hidden community, and now I’m part of it.”
“`
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
About the Author
