PRINCETON, N.J. - USRowing is pleased to announce that 2012 Paralympic Games bronze medalists Oksana Masters and Rob Jones have been awarded the 2012 Isabel Bohn Award for Achievement in Adaptive Rowing.
In their first year as competitors in Paralympic rowing, Masters and Jones won both the 2012 Non-Qualified Paralympic Trials and the 2012 Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta in the trunk and arms mixed double sculls prior to winning bronze in London.
Masters and Jones will be honored at the Golden Oars Awards Dinner on Wednesday, November 14, at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.
Introduced last year, the Isabel Bohn Award is given to a member of the rowing community in the United States who has demonstrated achievement in adaptive rowing.
"Where adaptive rowing has come from, and where it strives to go, is a interesting journey for our sport," said USRowing Chief Executive Officer Glenn Merry. "These two individuals represent how someone can come into the sport and make a huge impact on performance, while overcoming personal limitations and being able to maximize the moment. Their accomplishments are impressive. They not only had to qualify the boat for the U.S., but also went on to win a medal in a highly contested international field. It's an amazing feat and worthy of recognition."
"It is tremendous honor for our boat to be nominated, especially it being only the second year for this award and us still being so new to this elite level of rowing," said Masters.
"It has been an amazing experience, from the training, to meeting all of the adaptive athletes in all the boats. Every single one of them is just as much deserving of this award. It's going to be tough following in Isabel's footsteps, because of her amazing impact in adaptive rowing. Receiving this award is a truly amazing honor and I am so thankful for everyone's support. I an also excited for this opportunity for the adaptive rowing community as every year more awareness is brought to the sport," she said.
"It is a privilege to be recognized for our achievements, despite only training together for a relatively short time," said Jones. "To be included in the same award as people of such a high caliber as Mrs. Bohn is an honor."
The award is named in honor of the first recipient, Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports founder and Executive Director Isabel Bohn. Since it's beginnings in 1995, the Philadelphia based organization provides sport and recreation programs for people with disabilities, geared to maximize the health and exercise benefits of physical activity.
As a child, Bohn survived a streetcar collision when she was 10, but the accident required the amputation of her left leg above the knee and several fingers on her left hand. Despite her physical limitations, Bohn has achieved significant athletic milestones.
Winner of the Louis Braille Award in 2004, she was the first adaptive participant in Philadelphia's Dad Vail Regatta and the first adaptive competitor at a world rowing championships. Bohn was instrumental in the foundation of the Philadelphia Rowing Program for the Disabled, where she served as chairperson from 1983-84 and 1988-2008. She is also a founding member of the Magee Rehabilitation Amp-Peers, a peer-counseling program for people with amputations. Bohn has served on the FISA Adaptive Commission and the USRowing Adaptive Committee.
USRowing recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions and achievements in the sport in 14 categories.
Seven of the awards will be presented at the Golden Oars Dinner including the USRowing Medal of Honor, awarded to Stan Pocock; Male Athlete of the Year, awarded to Glenn Ochal; Female Athlete of the Year, awarded to Oksana Masters; Jack Franklin Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded to Kate Godwin; Jack Kelly Award, awarded to Mike Knopp; Anita DeFrantz Award for Advancing Diversity in Rowing, awarded to RowLA; and the Isabel Bohn Award for Achievement in Adaptive Rowing, awarded to Oksana Masters and Rob Jones.
Seven additional USRowing Awards will be presented Saturday, December 1 at the 2012 USRowing Annual Convention in Oklahoma City, Okla., including the John J. Carlin Service Award; Clayton W. Chapman Award; Joan Zandbergen "Mama Z" Award; Julian Wolf Award; Man of the Year Award; Ernestine Bayer Award (formerly Woman of the Year); and the Club of the Year Award.
Seven Fan's Choice Awards also will be presented at the Golden Oars Awards Dinner. They include the National Team Rower of the Year; Junior Rower of the Year; Masters Rower of the Year, Collegiate Rower of the Year; Junior Coach of the Year; Masters Coach of the Year; and Collegiate Coach of the Year. All seven winners will be announced Oct. 24.