title: Rowing at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
text: # Rowing at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
  
  Rowing at the 2008 Summer Paralympics was held in Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park from 9 September to 11 September. This was the first time that rowing was competed at the Paralympic Games.
  
  ## Classification
  
  Rowers were given a classification depending on the type and extent of their disability. The classification system allows rowers to compete against others with a similar level of function.
  
  Rowing classes were:
  
  * LTA (Legs, Trunk and Arms) - Mixed coxed fours
  * TA (Trunk and Arms) - Mixed double sculls
  * A (Arms only) - Men's and women's singles
  
  ## Events
  
  Four rowing events were held:
  
  * Men's Single Sculls A
  * Women's Single Sculls A
  * Mixed Double Sculls TA
  * Mixed Four Coxed LTA
  
  ## Participating countries
  
  There were 108 athletes (56 male, 52 female) from 23 nations taking part in this sport.
  
  * Australia (3)
  * Belarus (1)
  * Brazil (9)
  * Canada (8)
  * China (9)
  * Denmark (5)
  * France (1)
  * Germany (7)
  * Great Britain (9)
  * Hong Kong (1)
  * Hungary (1)
  * Israel (9)
  * Italy (9)
  * Japan (2)
  * Netherlands (5)
  * Poland (3)
  * Portugal (1)
  * Russia (5)
  * South Africa (5)
  * South Korea (1)
  * Spain (1)
  * Ukraine (4)
  * United States (9)
  
  ## Medal summary
  
  ### Medal table
  
  This ranking sorts countries by the number of gold medals earned by their rowers (in this context a country is an entity represented by a National Paralympic Committee). The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze medals. If, after the above, countries are still tied, equal ranking is given and they are listed alphabetically.
  
  | Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Great Britain (GBR) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
  | 2 | China (CHN) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | 2 | Italy (ITA) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | 4 | United States (USA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
  | 5 | Australia (AUS) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
  | 5 | Belarus (BLR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
  | 5 | Ukraine (UKR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
  | 8 | Brazil (BRA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
  | 8 | Israel (ISR) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
  | Totals (9 entries) | Totals (9 entries) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 |
  
  ### Medalists
  
  | Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | Men's single sculls details | Tom Aggar Great Britain | Oleksandr Petrenko Ukraine | Eli Nawi Israel |
  | Women's single sculls details | Helene Raynsford Great Britain | Liudmila Vauchok Belarus | Laura Schwanger United States |
  | Mixed double sculls details | China (CHN) Zhou Yangjing Shan Zilong | Australia (AUS) John Maclean Kathryn Ross | Brazil (BRA) Elton Santana Josiane Lima |
  | Mixed coxed four details | Italy (ITA) Paola Protopapa Luca Agoletto Daniele Signore Graziana Saccocci Cox: Alessandro Franzetti | United States (USA) Emma Preuschl Tracy Tackett Jesse Karmazin Jamie Dean Cox: Simona Chin | Great Britain (GBR) Vicki Hansford Naomi Riches Alastair McKean James Morgan Cox: Alan Sherman |
  