Meet the Crew: Aisyah

We are so excited to announce the addition of our newest Athlete to the Hydrow crew, Aisyah Rafaee. Read on to learn a bit more about her! 

Aisyah is a trailblazer — as Singapore’s first Olympian in rowing, she’s got serious drive. As an athletic counselor, she approaches fitness with compassion so you can reach your own goals too. The result? Dynamic workouts that make you feel great, inside and out. --- How did you get into rowing? 

I was talent-scouted when I was rowing on the rowing machine during my senior year in high school. The lady who “discovered” my rowing potential was a former national rower who was looking for a partner. I tried it out, hated it, but realised I was pretty good at it. It’s funny, it definitely wasn’t love at first sight for me and rowing – it took time, but the sport grew on me!

What’s been your proudest rowing moment?

When I qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, no doubt! To be the first rower from Singapore to qualify for the Olympics was a dream come true. Deciding to train for the Olympics with the odds stacked against me was a leap of faith, but I never regretted it for a second. There were injuries, low-points, and setbacks that made the dream feel so far away, but I was able to reach my ultimate goal. I couldn’t have done it without so many people, and it’s hard to put into words the pride that comes with making it to the Olympics. 

What drew you to Hydrow and encouraged you to join the crew? 

I think the best part about Hydrow is getting to do the thing I love the most – rowing. There was a period of time when I absolutely hated the sport – I had been in it for so long and felt like I never wanted to be back in a boat again. Hydrow has given me this opportunity to fall back in love with the sport. Getting back in the boat has been nothing short of AMAZING and this time, I get to share my love for rowing with even more people. I can’t wait to get to know the incredible community, hear their stories, and be part of their journeys, whatever they may be. 

How would you describe your workout style? 

I don’t want the Members to just get a workout in: I want them to feel engaged, empowered, and see every opportunity they get on Hydrow as a new experience!

What activities do you enjoy when you’re not on the water?

I love running, lifting, and doing mobility stuff! I’m actually proud to say that I qualified for the 2022 Boston Marathon during my first-ever marathon try. 

Outside of athletics, I love to read but find it so hard to find time to read an actual book these days that I often resort to listening to audiobooks. 

I love travelling and going on road trips. I like discovering new places and meeting new people. This may sound ironic given my love for travelling, but I absolutely hate flying. I hate it so much that if teleportation were a thing, I’d invest all of my money into that machine. :) 

What is a fun fact about you that not many people know?

I am a Malay which is an ethnic group native to South East Asia. 

Let’s talk music – what’s your go-to pump up song or workout playlist? 

Pitbull always pumps me up, for sure. I’m kind of a mixed bag when it comes to workout music – my favorite workout playlist has Pitbull, Flo Rida, Jessie J, Green Day, Usher. Like I said, a total mixed bag!

Anything else you want the Hydrow community to know? 

I AM SUPER EXCITED TO BE PART OF THIS AMAZING COMMUNITY. Can’t wait to do great things with everyone!

–  Check out Aisyah on Instagram, learn more about her workout style, and be sure to stay up to date with all things Hydrow on our social media channels.