She’s training in Lake Quinsig with only 4 months of preparation. 

Naturally, the training has been hard.

She says:

“The intensity [of full-time training] is higher. The workload is more demanding in my body.”

“Most women at Sydney University Boat Club (where Aisyah prepared for the Olympic trials) are 15 years younger than me. They match or surpass my speed, pushing me to my limits on the water.”
What she said next impressed me…

“I’ve come to accept and be okay with the average days. It’s unrealistic to expect personal bests and top speeds all the time. There are days when my body isn’t performing at its peak, and my boat speed suffers as a result.”

“It’s still tough to navigate through those low days, but I’m learning to give myself grace.”

In my experience, people of all ages avoid learning a new skill for a few reasons:

✔️ They’re afraid they can’t perform their best 24/7.
✔️ They’re beginners and don’t want to look like it.
✔️ They find the beginning too challenging to keep going.

And I get it. Boating, as any skill, isn’t for everyone.

But if you want to give rowing a shot, especially if you’re a complete beginner…

…Forget thoughts such as “what if it’s too hard?” or “what will people think of me?”…

…And learn from certified professionals, accompanied by a team of motivated beginners…

…Then give our adult “Learn to Row” course a try. 

This is our introductory class. And you’ll learn to row regardless of your fitness level or previous rowing experience.

It’s two weeks long and, by the end of it, you’ll have an experience-based understanding of how rowing works. You also earn your bragging rights and can show off to your friends!

>>> Learn to row in two weeks ?

(Make sure you scroll down to The “Adult Learn to Row 1-A” option. That’s the fourth option on the list.)

P.P.S. Read the full interview with Aisyah Rafaee, Olympic rower preparing on Lake Quinsig, here.