By David Gold

Erik Horrie_02-04-12April 3 - Erik Horrie (pictured) has been selected for this summer's Paralympic Games in London after impressing at the 2012 Rowing Australia National Selection Trials.

Horrie competes in the arms and shoulders men's single scull, and only made his World Championship debut last year on Lake Bled in Slovenia.

Though his boat is not yet qualified for the Games, if he is successful in doing so, Horrie will be in contention to bring back Australia's first Paralympic medal in the boat class.

Last year he picked up bronze in the adaptive men's arms and shoulders single scull, in a race won by Britain's multiple world champion Tom Aggar.

Horrie's compatriots Kathryn Ross, John Maclean and Gavin Bellis were also selected in the squad for the trunk and arms mixed double sculls, after they impressed during the trials at the Sydney Regatta Rowing Centre.

John Maclean_and_Kathryn_Ross_02-04-12
Ross and Maclean (pictured) won a silver medal in Beijing four years ago in the inaugural Paralympic Games rowing regatta.

Rowing Australia head adaptive coach Chad King said the strength of the programme was pushing all athletes in the right direction.

"We could not be happier with how all of the four athletes have improved over the past few months as they vie for places on the 2012 Australian Rowing Team," King said.

"Gavin and John both made the adaptive double move very quickly alongside Kathryn throughout the trials and we believe some extra training and an international race will be important."

Australia's adaptive crews, when selected, will take to the water in Munich, Germany in June for a World Cup event before setting up camp in Varese, Italy for a pre-Paralympic training centre.

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