STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club adaptive athlete Curtis Dickens has earned a place in Great Britain’s squad at the World Rowing Cup.
The prestigious competition takes place in Varese, Italy over the weekend of June 13 to 15.
Dickens becomes Stratford’s first para-rower to compete for Team GB since James Roe won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
He is also the first Stratford member to represent GB since the club’s adaptive squad formed with just two members in 2015.
Dickens competed in a number of sports before he was involved in a catastrophic car accident in 2019.
Great Britain’s talent scouts asked Stratford’s adaptive coaching team to develop Dickens as a para-rower in May 2023.
Dickens had never previously been in a boat before.
The GB squad took Dickens on full time in November 2024. He has earned his first GB vest just seven months later.
Stratford’s head adaptive coach, Mark Dewdney said: “His selection is testimony to sheer hard work – by himself and my team.
“There is no doubt he has blossomed with the professional support GB can provide. But Stratford laid the foundations.
“Varese will be a small but significant step along the road to what we hope will end at the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028.
“Stratford’s adaptive squad’s essential mission is to provide enjoyable rowing to the those that have an impairment.
“We wish to be able to do both support the club rower and develop top performing athletes, all our plans have that in mind.
“With support from the club and elsewhere, Stratford has the opportunity to be a dominant force in our sport – we cannot do it alone.”
Dickens will compete in the PR2 men’s single sculls event with the heats to take place on Friday June 13 and the final on Sunday, June 15.
