U.S. to Race PR3 Women’s Pair at Gavirate International Para Regatta

USRowing will have a PR3 women's pair racing in this weekend's International Para Rowing Regatta 2021 in Gavirate, Italy.

The crew of Serafina King (Los Angeles, Calif./University of Oklahoma) and Allie Reilly (North Kingstown, R.I./University of Rhode Island) will get the chance to race four times this weekend starting Friday.

"Although they have only trained together for a short time, Serafina and Allie are eager to finally race after a long year of cancellations and postponements due to the pandemic," said USRowing Director of Para High Performance Ellen Minzner. "The conditions here have been ideal, and they are making the most of their racing here, entering both races offered in the Gavirate Para International Regatta."

Reilly and King are both part of the selection camp for the PR3 mixed four with coxswain that will represent the U.S. at the 2020 Paralympic Games. And with both FISA classification and international race experience a requirement to race in Tokyo, King will be taking care of those in Gavirate.

Previously a para swimmer, King started rowing in January of 2018, earning a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma later that winter. She will be racing in her first international race as a para rower tomorrow.

Reilly is a two-time world championships' silver medalist in the PR3 mixed four with coxswain, having raced at the 2018 and 2019 World Rowing Championships. The U.S. has won six consecutive silver medals in the event at the world level including the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil. This year's Paralympic boat will be named by June 18.

The U.S. qualified all four Paralympic boats for Tokyo. The other three boats were selected at the 2020 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Team Trials – Rowing in April. Click here for the current Paralympic roster.

The Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 are scheduled to take place August 24-September 5, with para rowing events starting August 27.