My Road to Rio
Donation protected
My Story-
My rowing career began on the North branch of the Chicago River at the Dammrich Rowing Center in Skokie, Illinois. Following in my older brother’s footsteps, I joined the Loyola Academy rowing team. I’d be lying if I said I was a promising young athlete. Short of 6 feet tall and 130lbs, I was about as tough as box of spaghetti. Surrounded by good kids and mentors, I was able to stick with the sport through some tough and necessary development years. By my senior year I was a captain and helped find the team a little bit of success.
I continued my rowing career at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where I didn’t think I would last. Although I had grown a bit, I didn’t see myself Division I athletic material. Fortunately unlike most of the top collegiate rowing programs, Wisconsin’s team is built on the development of strong willed American kids, rather than a collection of top high school and international talent. Wisconsin’s head coach, Chris Clark, provides his athletes with a competitive and demanding program, but an environment that allows every individual, experienced or not, the opportunity to be an elite oarsman. His system and direction provided me with the tools necessary to make the next few steps from amateur, to competitive collegiate athlete, and into internationally competitive rower.
In my first year I made the priority freshman 8+ and placed 5th under Coach Eric Mueller. Over the next three years I raced in the Varsity 8+ for Coach Clark, highlighted by obtaining two Eastern Sprints medals and participating in the 2011 men’s eight that placed fourth at the IRA National Championships. Although I didn't find the success I hoped to for Wisconsin, I earned the opportunity to compete at an even higher level. In 2011, I earned a spot in Coach Mike Teti’s Under 23 Men's 8+ that won the World Championship in Amsterdam, Netherlands in world record time. The following year, along with fellow US rower Austin Hack, I raced the Men's pair at the Under 23 World Championships placing 4th.
I then returned to Wisconsin and took two years to pursue a Master's of Science in Bacteriology under Dr. Heidi Goodrich-Blair. I continued to train and only briefly had time to compete in a few national regattas, including victories at the 2013 & 2014 Head of the Charles regatta where, alongside fellow Badger alumni Anthony Altimari, in the Champ 4+ events. I graduated with my degree in August of 2014, and joined the historic Vesper boat club in Philadelphia where I began training fulltime through the fall and winter. By the spring I was invited to join the Princeton Training Center and in June raced the Men's pair at the World Cup II in Varese, Italy with Olympian and fellow badger alumni Ross James, placing 5th. A month later, with the help of Coach Sarah Trowbridge, my partner Michael DiSanto and I won the Senior pair trial and earned the chance to represent the USA at the 2015 World Championships. We placed 9th in the World and qualified the US Men’s pair for the 2016 Olympic games.
Unfortunately, qualifying a boat does not qualify the individuals rowing it. So I am currently back at the Princeton rowing center training under Coach Luke McGee & Coach Bryan Volpenheim.
Help-
Unfortunately, funding for American rowers is limited and with the high intensity training schedule, there isn't much time to alot for a job. So I'm kindly asking for any help towards my conquest towards the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
What is the money for?-
The major costs are simple: Flights, living accomodations, transportation, food, FOOD, training costs, and performance needs.
Thank you for your time & help! Please share this page with friends, family, co-workers, on facebook, twitter, via blog, e-mail, and more.
More About Me:
http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/42228/dariush-aghai
http://www.usrowing.org/pressbox/athletebios/dariushaghai
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-rowing/mtt/aghai_tim00.html
My rowing career began on the North branch of the Chicago River at the Dammrich Rowing Center in Skokie, Illinois. Following in my older brother’s footsteps, I joined the Loyola Academy rowing team. I’d be lying if I said I was a promising young athlete. Short of 6 feet tall and 130lbs, I was about as tough as box of spaghetti. Surrounded by good kids and mentors, I was able to stick with the sport through some tough and necessary development years. By my senior year I was a captain and helped find the team a little bit of success.
I continued my rowing career at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where I didn’t think I would last. Although I had grown a bit, I didn’t see myself Division I athletic material. Fortunately unlike most of the top collegiate rowing programs, Wisconsin’s team is built on the development of strong willed American kids, rather than a collection of top high school and international talent. Wisconsin’s head coach, Chris Clark, provides his athletes with a competitive and demanding program, but an environment that allows every individual, experienced or not, the opportunity to be an elite oarsman. His system and direction provided me with the tools necessary to make the next few steps from amateur, to competitive collegiate athlete, and into internationally competitive rower.
In my first year I made the priority freshman 8+ and placed 5th under Coach Eric Mueller. Over the next three years I raced in the Varsity 8+ for Coach Clark, highlighted by obtaining two Eastern Sprints medals and participating in the 2011 men’s eight that placed fourth at the IRA National Championships. Although I didn't find the success I hoped to for Wisconsin, I earned the opportunity to compete at an even higher level. In 2011, I earned a spot in Coach Mike Teti’s Under 23 Men's 8+ that won the World Championship in Amsterdam, Netherlands in world record time. The following year, along with fellow US rower Austin Hack, I raced the Men's pair at the Under 23 World Championships placing 4th.
I then returned to Wisconsin and took two years to pursue a Master's of Science in Bacteriology under Dr. Heidi Goodrich-Blair. I continued to train and only briefly had time to compete in a few national regattas, including victories at the 2013 & 2014 Head of the Charles regatta where, alongside fellow Badger alumni Anthony Altimari, in the Champ 4+ events. I graduated with my degree in August of 2014, and joined the historic Vesper boat club in Philadelphia where I began training fulltime through the fall and winter. By the spring I was invited to join the Princeton Training Center and in June raced the Men's pair at the World Cup II in Varese, Italy with Olympian and fellow badger alumni Ross James, placing 5th. A month later, with the help of Coach Sarah Trowbridge, my partner Michael DiSanto and I won the Senior pair trial and earned the chance to represent the USA at the 2015 World Championships. We placed 9th in the World and qualified the US Men’s pair for the 2016 Olympic games.
Unfortunately, qualifying a boat does not qualify the individuals rowing it. So I am currently back at the Princeton rowing center training under Coach Luke McGee & Coach Bryan Volpenheim.
Help-
Unfortunately, funding for American rowers is limited and with the high intensity training schedule, there isn't much time to alot for a job. So I'm kindly asking for any help towards my conquest towards the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
What is the money for?-
The major costs are simple: Flights, living accomodations, transportation, food, FOOD, training costs, and performance needs.
Thank you for your time & help! Please share this page with friends, family, co-workers, on facebook, twitter, via blog, e-mail, and more.
More About Me:
http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/42228/dariush-aghai
http://www.usrowing.org/pressbox/athletebios/dariushaghai
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-rowing/mtt/aghai_tim00.html
Organizer
Tim Aghai
Organizer
Princeton, NJ