Saige Harper

Started: She grew up around water and was a competitive swimmer for 15 years. A family member suggested that she may be good at rowing. "It was hard for me to find the love for water sports again after the accident [she acquired her impairment in a water tubing accident]. The water was the thing that almost killed me. I did it for the little girl who was in the hospital bed for months and did PT three times a week, thinking she might never walk again. I needed to know that I could do this." (sacredheartpioneers.com, 03 May 2023; usrowing.org, 01 Jan 2023) Reason: She initially rowed as cross-training for swimming. After she was recruited to colleges for both swimming and rowing, she had to decide which sport she wanted to pursue. "The decision wasn't super hard because I had been swimming for so long. I was ready for new challenges." (gazettenet.com, 09 Apr 2024) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (sacredheartpioneers.com, 03 May 2023)

Sporting Relatives: Her older sister Jessica competed in swimming for the University of New Hampshire in the United States of America. (gazettenet.com, 09 Apr 2024)