CHICAGO — Diana Helt discovered the next chapter of her sports career by accident.
The Bucktown resident had been a member of the Team USA world championship paratriathlon squad from 2012-14 and was training to make the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
But she found out last year that her classification of paratriathletes — the women's wheelchair division — would not be included in the Paralympics.
"There was a moment of 'What do I do now?' " said Helt, who has cerebral palsy and, as a paratriathlete, swims, uses an arm-propelled handcycle and racing wheelchair.
"I was trying to figure out what was going to be next in my life — something that really would help shape my day to day."
That search ended in 2014 when her triathlon club hosted its end-of-the-year picnic at the Chicago Rowing Foundation's WMS Boathouse at Clark Park. At the October picnic, Helt had the opportunity to use the North Center boathouse's indoor rowing machine, and she was immediately hooked.
"I was searching for something and I didn’t even know what it was until I found rowing," Helt said.
For her paratriathlons, Helt trained 15-20 hours a week, and that time has been replaced by her devotion to rowing — either in the boathouse or on the Chicago River. Her first competitive tests will be Aug. 15 at the Bayada Regatta in Philadelphia and the 2015 USRowing Masters National Championships in nearby Camden, N.J., from Aug. 13-16.
Justin Breen says Helt's training is now entirely different:
"She is an exceptionally strong rower and is posting times that are highly competitive," said Lakeview's Su Bermingham, a master rower with the rowing foundation "She's highly inspirational and an unbelievable athlete."
Helt's cerebral palsy does not prevent her from walking short distances, but she does not use her legs while rowing. All of her power comes from her arms, abs and back muscles. A strap across her lap keeps her knees from bending.
Helt, who races in 1- and 2-kilometer events, said she's never been in better shape.
"It's a totally different intensity of training," Helt, 31, said. "It requires an intense amount of power and fitness. You have to give it all you have. It's been the perfect fit for me."
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