by Alison Brown
Ahoy matey! Did you know that August is International Pirate Month? What does that have to do with the Olympics or Paralympics? So much!
To get you scallywags ship shape, we have some great podcast episodes to make you a savvy pirate. So batten down the hatches, grab some grog, get a little grub from the galley, and take a listen!
Sailing & Rowing
All hands on deck! The first thing every pirate needs is a boat on which to sail the seven seas. Sometimes you will have the wind and hoist the sails but sometimes the wind will die and you will have to hit the oars. We have privateers to help you with both!
- Tessa Gobbo, Rowing 8s
- Michelle Sechser, Lightweight Rowing
- Kristi Wagner, Rowing Pairs
- Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea, Sailing 49FXer
- Sydney 2000: Set Sail with the Mascots
Fencing
Most pirates wield a cutlass or a rapier, neither of which is a category in Olympic or Paralympic swordplay. No matter! Cutlass is similar to sabre and epee is sort of like a rapier and foil is just a cool sword.
Take a listen to the entire 2024 US Olympic fencing team, plus a wheelchair fencer. This group plundered a few medals in Paris. You will learn everything you need to know to defend your treasure.
- Foil – Lauren Scruggs, Jackie Dubrovich, Lee Kiefer, Maia Weintraub, Miles Chamley-Watson, Nick Itkin, Alexander Massialias, Gerek Meinhardt
- Epee – Kat Holmes, Anne Cebula, Margherita Guzzi Vincenti and Hadley Husisian
- Sabre – Maia Chamberlain, Tatiana Nazlymov, Magda Skarbonkiewicz, Elizabeth Tartakovsky, Eli Dershwitz, Filip Dolegiewicz, Colin Heathcock, Mitchell Saron, Olya Ovtchinnikova
- Wheelchair Fencing – Ellen Geddes
Archery
Enemy too far away to use your sword? Break out the bow! You can shoot an arrow up to the crow’s nest and take care of that lookout. Our two archers have a whole lot of doubloons to prove they can handle themselves if the Royal Navy comes for you.
Shooting
Flintlock pistols and muskets can be unreliable so our shooters have trusty weapons to hit any target. A true buccaneer never misses the mark. Fire in the hole!
- Sagen Maddalena, 50m Rifle Three Positions
- Tim Sherry, 50m Rifle Three Positions
- Ginny Thrasher, Air Rifle
- Mary Tucker, Air Rifle
- Kim Rhode, Skeet and Double Trap
- McKenna Geer, Para Rifle Shooting
- Marco de la Rosa, Para Pistol Shooting
Throwing Things
When all else fails and Royal Marines are closing in on you and your treasure, you may have to resort to hurling a goblet and heavy chain so you can escape with your booty. These corsairs can protect your broadside.
- Michelle Carter, Shot Put
- Noelle Malkamaki, Para Shot Put
- Justin Phongsavanh, Para Javelin
- DeAnna Price, Hammer Throw
- Ness Murby, Para Discus
Eye Patches and Peg Legs
So what if you can only see out of one eye? Or have a wooden leg (though prosthetic technology has really improved, matey)? These para athletes rock wearing eye patches or dashing across the deck with one leg:
- Calahan Young, Goalball
- Molly Quinn, Blind Soccer
- Noelle Lambert, Para Athletics
- John Register, Para Athletics
Walking the Plank
When you have a prisoner on board who just won’t cooperate, send them walking down the plank to a watery death. See if that will teach them! Before you opt to choose the long walk to a watery grave, teach your captives something about walking so they can take their last steps in style.
- Evan Dunfee, Race Walk
- Gary Westerfield and Maryanne Daniel, Race Walk Judges
Raise a Jolly Roger and heave ho all you lads and lassies! We would never leave you marooned. Yo ho ho!
–Additional contributions by Jill Jaracz