It would come as a surprise to most that Jed Altschwager did very little in the way of exercise before entering the world of Para-sport.
Surfing was the extent of his fitness regime, but after losing his lower leg in a workplace accident when an excavator crushed his left foot, sport became an important part of Jed’s journey back to full physical and mental health. Enter CrossFit.
Then in 2016, Jed was approached by Paralympics Australia’s Talent Identification Manager and three-time Paralympian Tim Matthews, who had seen a video of him using a rowing machine and recognised his potential in Para-sport. Enter Para-rowing.
Jed made his international debut at the 2018 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where he won a silver medal with James Talbot, and returned to international waters for the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Ottensheim, Austria, to defend his silver medal, this time with Will Smith …
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It would come as a surprise to most that Jed Altschwager did very little in the way of exercise before entering the world of Para-sport.
Surfing was the extent of his fitness regime, but after losing his lower leg in a workplace accident when an excavator crushed his left foot, sport became an important part of Jed’s journey back to full physical and mental health. Enter CrossFit.
Then in 2016, Jed was approached by Paralympics Australia’s Talent Identification Manager and three-time Paralympian Tim Matthews, who had seen a video of him using a rowing machine and recognised his potential in Para-sport. Enter Para-rowing.
Jed made his international debut at the 2018 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where he won a silver medal with James Talbot, and returned to international waters for the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Ottensheim, Austria, to defend his silver medal, this time with Will Smith (the other Will Smith).
Even as a dual World Championships silver medallist, however, Jed is still fighting hard to secure a place on the 2020 Australian Paralympic Team – his medal-winning discipline, the pairs PR3, is not a Paralympic event, which means that he has had to shift his focus and training to one of the most fiercely competitive events in Australian Paralympic sport, the mixed coxed four.
It’s not going to be easy, but with the goal of winning a Paralympic medal in sight and within reach, Jed is ready to get it done.
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