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“Our Combined Disabilities are our Greatest Strength”:
Official Launch of the IDBF Paradragon Division
Spectators new and old to dragon boating never tire of its sheer power and guts: 20paddlers powering through sprints and long-distance races, requiring absolute synchronization, focus and strength. Watching teams ‘set up’ at the dock, eyes straight ahead, muscles straining in anticipation of the airhorn, is thrilling to watch.
The 2,000 year old sport is also adaptable to a wide range of abilities, as evidenced by the numerous survivor and differently abled teams. Groups such as Quebec’s blind and partially sighted Caravela team, Portland’s Special Dragons featuring athletes with intellectual disabilities, and Ontario’s Spirit Challenge boat are open to all. This is an opportunity for people of all abilities to contribute their skills in a competitive sport and find their fit.
However how many teams go beyond the community level- and hit international?
In 2019, the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) announced a new Paradragon division for teams either fully or partially composed of individuals of varying abilities. In doing so, they made a critical step in recognizing the true power of disabled athletes for the fierce competitors they are.
While the pandemic imposed a slow-down on most athletic pursuits, paradragon teams have still been steadily gaining notoriety for refusing to let their different abilities hold them back. Known as PWDs (‘Persons With Disabilities’), challenges can range from the physical to the intellectual, yet paddlers remain steadfast in their commitment and strength.
In fact, some of the strongest teams in the Philippines are composed of PWDs. More than merely holding their own, they are challenging perceptions about abilities. And in doing so, they are demonstrating what a meaningfully inclusive society could look like. Cebu’s Philippine Accessible Disability Services, Inc. (PADS) Dragonboat Racing Team actually was the very first such team to compete at the IDBF’s 14th World Nations Championships in Pattaya, Thailand in 2019.
These are hard-core athletes in their own right- it’s not just about ‘having fun’ for them. They are in it to prove their mettle, and train several days a week regardless of the weather.
Indeed, “Our combined disabilities are our greatest strength” is their motto.
While starting out as a community team, they quickly rose through the ranks, winning the International Dragon Boat Championship at the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat races two years in a row. Often racing against non-disabled boats, they gained recognition for their perseverance and cohesive strength. As noted by team manager JP Maunes, “Savor this moment. Always remember this day. You have earned a spot in the international dragon boat community. This is more than winning that gold medal- this is about respect.”
In the United States, boats made up of disabled veterans such as Arizona’s Team Blue and Chicago’s Wounded Warrior Project are gaining traction. As noted on the US Adaptive Adventures website, the program works to “help create a level playing field for everyone once inside the boat”. Through a bit of effort and a lot of creativity, they accommodate needs through incorporating visual or auditory cues or minor adjustments.
Team Blue veterans have consistently finished within the top ranks nationally. “We once joked [to] an elite ‘able-bodied’ team that we managed to podium against, that we are ‘standing here with all our 68 limbs [vs. the usual 80] and 20 heartbeats ahead of you’.”
The UK’s Purple Warriors are similarly made up of serving and retired members of HM Forces. Their website notes that they seek paddlers who “have grit and determination” and “want to challenge perceptions.”
Singapore boasts Society Staples, a project focused on fostering more inclusive societies through programs and awareness. As noted by co-founder Debra Lam, “With the right rapport and opportunities, people with disabilities can accomplish great feats...push[ing] the boundaries of what’s possible for PWDs.”
“When we tell people we are dragon boaters, the...comments we get is ‘[but] it’s such a tough sport’...If we can train up an entire team of people with disabilities in dragon boating and they can perform as well as anyone else, that will really be making a statement that they’re not [that] different.”
And back here at home, Dragon Boat Canada is also gearing up for its first national paradragon team, composed of paddlers who have accumulated some impressive hardware competing on non-disabled teams.
In spite of the difficult past year and a half with the pandemic, Paradragon teams have their sights set on the upcoming World Championships in 2023. They remain united in their goals- to outperform themselves, to stretch a bit further, to paddle a bit more cohesively.
And above all, to challenge assumptions about ability.
We wish all the paradragon teams luck and applaud them for being officially recognized by the IDBF!
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