Aisha Chow Races in Olympic Final
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — University of Miami alumna Aisha Chow’s historic Olympic appearance came to a close Saturday following the conclusion of the women’s single sculls finals.
Chow, who represented her native Trinidad and Tobago at the 2016 Olympics, left it all on the water in the final race of competition. She finished fourth in Final D with a time of 7:50.23, her fastest in five races in Brazil.
The 39-year-old made history in Rio, becoming the first rower from Trinidad and Tobago to compete in the Olympics when she raced in Heat 6 of the women’s single sculls on Aug. 6.
The Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, native placed fifth in her Olympic debut race with a time of 8:31.83 to move into the repechages. However, Chow and her fellow competitors in the repechage would have to wait a bit longer to race again as inclement weather forced a postponement on Aug. 7.
The wait was worth it as she earned one of two qualifying spots in Repechage 1 on Monday, finishing second with a time of 8:04.91. Chow’s second place finish in her repechage allowed her to advance to the quarterfinals.
Chow continued her improvement in the women’s single sculls quarterfinals on Tuesday morning at the Rio Olympics, finishing fifth in Quarterfinal 2 with a time of 8:02.53. She took fourth place in Semifinal C/D 2 on Friday with a time of 8:20.07 to advance to Final D on Saturday.
A member of Miami’s rowing team from 1995-1999, Chow arrived at Miami on an academic scholarship before trying out rowing as a novice. She quickly found success and was thrust into the top varsity boat as a strong, but inexperienced freshman.
In her time at Miami, Chow helped the Hurricanes excel at notable regattas, including Head of the Hooch, and helped the team become one of the top programs at the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship. As a junior, Chow was part of the Hurricanes’ varsity eight that won a title at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association championship in 1997-98.
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