Andover’s Emelie Eldracher knows this is the chance of a lifetime.
In just over four months, Eldracher will travel to Paris, France — to compete in the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games.
“On a scale of 1-10, I’m hovering around a 13 in excitement to represent the United States at the Paralympics,” she said.
Eldracher is the coxswain for the Team USA “PR3 4+” rowing team, that will compete in the Paralympic, which runs from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 in Paris, two weeks after the close of the Olympic Games.
“I have dreamed of this moment since my first Para race over five years ago,” she said. “Even when we make it to Worlds, it doesn’t mean we will get to race at the Paralympic Games. We go through selection each year. To make it this time is such an honor.”
Introduced to rowing during her freshman year at Phillips Academy, Eldracher, as the coxswain, serves as the leader of the boat, which in her event is a four-person, mixed gender, sweep-oar boat plus coxwain with sliding seats.
“Coxswains are the only people who can see in the direction the boat is going,” said Eldracher, who is not classified as a Para athlete, but can compete as a coxswain. “We are responsible for steering, safety, in-race strategy, technical insights, and motivation. Executing the race plan is a key aspect of what we bring to the boat. My role as a teammate is to be the voice in your mind at the hardest and most painful moments.
“My event, the mixed PR3 4+, means two men and two women with a coxswain. It is the only Paralympic event with a coxswain, one out of three Olympic/Paralympic coxswain positions). The boat, and entire team, is extremely close-knit. We are all returning from the team last year, after having gone through selection again to make the Paralympic team.”
Eldracher and her team qualified for the Paralympics by taking second at the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
“Qualifying America (for the Paralympics) was incredible,” she said. “Of course, we celebrated qualifying the boat for the Paralympics, but what stands out is my team’s determination in the final. Although our main goal had been accomplished, my teammates approached the final race with an absolute hunger. Crossing to finish with the silver, within three seconds of Great Britain, only fueled our desire to continue getting better.”
Eldracher’s rowing journey began with a desire to play a team sport.
“After 12 years of individual sports — martial arts, gymnastics, and swimming — my mom told me I should do a team sport,” she said. “Many people told me I, ‘Looked like a coxswain.’ I had the opportunity to join my friends for the first day of crew at (Phillips) Andover. I had always liked martial arts for the ability to be tiny but mighty. As a coxswain, I had the chance to contribute to a group effort even though I was physically smaller than my teammates.
“The coaches took one look at me and did not mistake me for a rower. Instead, they kindly told me I would make a perfect coxswain. With this stamp of approval, I felt made for the position. After that, I had to give it everything I had.”
That journey has continued at MIT, where she’s won a New England title and has been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
During that time, she pursued her dream of joining USA Rowing.
“When I first applied to Team USA, the Director of High Performance Pathways told me it was going to be difficult because MIT isn’t immediately known for a national team pipeline,” she said. “But, she told me she could see me doing it. I worked on the technical corrections she, an Olympic coxswain, and my coaches gave me. I competed with as many teams as I could.
“My first race in a Para 4+ was that summer. To my right and left were the US Para National Team. I lay in a mixed composite boat of several of the country’s best. We weren’t sure what to expect, but it became a close fight with one of the boats. To this day, it is one of the most fun races I’ve had the honor to be a part of.
“During 2021, I was invited to Selection Camp for the World Championships PR3 4+. My nerves felt electrified every moment of that camp. In the end, my name wasn’t called. But, with the help of their advice, the next year I was lucky enough to make the team.”
Now, she can’t wait to take on the world’s best in the Paralympics.
“My heart rate may oscillate around 200 while I struggle to tone down the smile,” she said. “Although I’ll be nervous, we’ve got each other’s backs. From our coach to our director, our families, and friends to one another, we uplift and give each other confidence. I’ll be thanking God every step of the way for putting this in his plan for me.”
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