For decades the Special Olympics movement has been encouraging those with intellectual disabilities to get out and get involved in sport, and a group of indoor rowers in Dunedin are taking their skills to the next level.
Unlike any group in the country, they're learning how to row on the water through the country's only indoor rowing tank.
It's the ultimate coaching tool. Not only is it safe for learning but it's also used by the university's top rowers to perfect their stroke.
“To be able to do the rowing and fix up techniques and for me as a coach to stand right beside them is pretty special,” said coach Glen Sinclair.
Each week the same faces have been showing up. Every Monday night without fail, these Special Olympians are pushing themselves and testing themselves.
And for some that has been turning up religiously for 25 years.
Sinclair didn’t think that would even be possible when they first started up.
“I thought maybe one year. But you just couldn't it give up.”
Over that time there's been competitions, parties and even a wedding.
“We got married upstairs," said Pete Riley, who married team manager Deb.
“These guys are living so much longer because of the fitness, and the fitness that Special Olympics gets out of them," said Sinclair.
"We all train hard and hopefully we continue for the next 25 years," said Deb.
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