Rowing ace Reed takes on virtual challenge
LOUGHBOROUGH rower and threetime Olympic champion Pete Reed will be competing in the world’s first virtual Oxford-Cambridge boat race on Saturday.
Reed, who won gold in the men’s coxless four in 2008 and 2012 and the men’s eight in 2016 Olympics, faced an even greater challenge after suffering a spinal stroke that left him paralysed.
Representing Oxford, he will take part in the race along with ablebodied, disabled, lightweight and openweight participants, including world champion Oliver Cook, Rio Paralympic champion Grace Clough and Australian para rower Renae Domaschenz.
Forming two teams of eight, participants in the MCH.London virtual boat race will be filmed while racing on ergometers in their homes across the world.
The event will raise funds for Power2Inspire, a charity which promotes sports inclusivity through events, coaching and education.
Event organiser and founder of Power2Inspire, John Willis, was born without fully-formed limbs and spent much of his childhood being excluded from sports.
He created Power2Inspire with the aim of ensuring his experience was not repeated.
He said: “I was a cox at Cambridge and beyond, and when I saw the success of the Power2Inspire Inclusive Festivals – including badminton, hockey, tennis and golf – that we run, I was determined to find a way to make a rowing event with the same philosophy, to encourage people of different abilities to participate together.
“Seeing Olympic champions competing alongside talented club rowers inspires me. I want everyone to experience the good in sport, the fun, the camaraderie; to really enjoy taking part and watching at home.”
The race will be available to watch online at Power2Inspire’s Give as You Live page at 3pm , with an option for viewers to donate to the charity.