Dreaming Big
Todd Vogt and Pearl Outlaw have a big dream: to win a medal in the PR3 mixed double scull event (PR3 mixed 2x) at the Paralympics in Paris in 2024. As they work towards that dream, they have ambitious goals along the way.
This coming September they’ll be representing the US in the PR3 mixed 2x at the World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic. Their aspiration is to earn a medal at the World Championships.
The History
Pearl started rowing in 2014 while in high school in Charlottesville, VA, and rowed collegiately at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. She lost her vision in 2018 due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disorder. She continued rowing despite losing her vision, representing the US in the PR3 mixed 2x at the World Rowing Championships in both 2018 and 2019 finishing in 5th and 3 rd place, respectively. She is also working towards being a dual-sport athlete in rowing and Nordic skiing.
Todd started rowing in 1992 at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, NY. After college he continued to row for various clubs including the West Side Rowing Club in Buffalo, NY, and the Portland Boat Club in Portland, OR. In 2018, Todd was diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s Disease and continued to row after his diagnosis. His racing highlights include a 6th place finish in the PR3 Men’s Pair at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria.
What We Have Been Up To
Todd and Pearl have been training together since Spring of 2021, winning their first national title in the PR3 mixed 2x at the 2021 USRowing Summer National Championships in Cherry Hill, NJ. In March, Pearl made the leap and moved out to Portland, Oregon to train full-time together with Todd and their coach, Susan Wood.
Since training full-time together in Portland, Pearl and Todd have had some solid results. In mid-March they won the PR3 mixed 2x event at the 2022 U.S. Rowing National Selection Regatta in Sarasota, FL, and at the 2022 USRowing Summer National Championships in West Windsor, NJ. Across the pond, the duo won the PR3 mixed 2x event at 2022 Gavirate International Para Rowing Regatta in Gavirate, Italy.
Their typical training schedule is rowing on the water in the morning from Monday to Saturday and training on land every afternoon either in the weight room or improving their fitness on the rowing machines and stationary bikes. They are on a mission to win a medal at the World Championships!
