This month, Adaptive Sports New England highlights two-time Para rowing world championship silver medalist Allie Reilly. Allie is a 2019 graduate of the University of Rhode Island (kinesiology), and a part time rowing coach at Community Rowing Inc (CRI). CRI conducts a Para rowing program in collaboration with Adaptive Sports New England where with the support of great coaches and mentors, such as Allie, youth with a visual and mobility impairment take part in weekly rowing sessions.
“We are tremendously fortunate to have role models like Allie coaching youth Para sport programs here in Boston,” said Joe Walsh, President of Adaptive Sports New England. She brings the lived experience of an athlete with a physical challenge who searched for, and found, a sport that works best for her. She then put in the effort to become one of the best Para rowers in the world. That sets an example for young athletes in local programs whether they aspire to become Paralympians, tradespeople, lawyers, parents, or all of the above.”
Allie has achieved tremendous success as a rower. She rowed in the USA PR3 Mixed Four with coxswain at the 2018 and 2019 World Rowing Championships, finishing second in both competitions. Translated to non-rowing terminology, her Paralympic class boat had two men rowers, two women rowers and a coxswain; each of the rowers having a Paralympic-eligible disability. Allie has also experienced rowing success in other arenas. For example, she was a two-time member of the URI eight that won the Atlantic-10 Conference Championship in 2018 and 2019.
Although hard to believe now, Allie wasn’t always sure there was a place for her in traditional sports. She was trapped in the typical mindset that convinces you that because you have a disability, sports are not for you. Allie now works to change that mindset within other young adults. “If I had known about Adaptive Sports New England when I was younger, maybe I would have been involved sooner,” said Allie. She believes that having a teen Para program for young kids who oftentimes don’t fit into a regular sport mold at their schools is extremely important.
Allie believes there is a sport for everyone. “I feel like a lot of people are discouraged that they can’t run around on the soccer fields, but there is a sport for them, you just have to find it.” In rowing, we can modify the boats to get anyone on the water.” Allie believes in programs like Adaptive Sports NE and the CRI Para rowing programs, noting that they are critical to athletes who wouldn’t have an opportunity otherwise.
Allie is now training with the US Rowing National Team program at CRI, and has her sights set on representing Team USA at the Tokyo Paralympics in August. She will continue to row, and coach, at CRI through the spring and summer – and hopes to get back out on the water soon.
Joe Paladino and Filomena Da Silva contributed to this post.
