Jed Norman Altschwager OAM (born 12 September 1986) is an Australian Paralympic rower. He teamed with Nikki Ayers to win a gold medal at the 2023 World Rowing Championships and they won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.[1]
Altschwager was born on 12 September 1986.[2] In 2015, he lost his foot after an accident with an excavator at work.[3] His rehabilitation identified rowing as a sport he could pursue and he took up the sport in 2017. Previous to his injury, he was a regular surfer. He is married to Jessica and they have a son Wolf and daughter Aspen.[4]
Altschwager made his international debut at the 2018 World Rowing Championships in the Men's PR3 Men's Pair with James Talbot. They won the silver medal.[5] At the 2019 World Rowing Championships, he teamed with Will Smith to win the silver medal in the Men's PR3 Men's Pair.[5]
Altschwager with Nikki Ayers won the gold medal in the PR3 Mixed Double at the 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade and 2024 Summer Paralympics.[6] They became the first Australian Paralympic rowers to win a gold medal.[7]
He was a South Australian Sports Institute athlete, he was coached by Lizzi Chapman and a member of Torrens Rowing Club.[2] He announced his retirement in December 2024.[8]
In December 2024, he was selected in the second Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Gen32 Coach Program.[9]
