Aisyah Rafaee - 2x Olympic Rower on Comebacks, Mental Strength & Redefining High Performance in Your 30s cover art

Aisyah Rafaee - 2x Olympic Rower on Comebacks, Mental Strength & Redefining High Performance in Your 30s

Aisyah Rafaee - 2x Olympic Rower on Comebacks, Mental Strength & Redefining High Performance in Your 30s

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In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we're joined by Aisyah Rafaee – a two-time Olympic rower from Singapore who competed at the Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the single scull. After taking an eight-year break from the sport, Aisyah made the bold decision to return—qualifying for Paris 2024 as one of the oldest athletes in the field and redefining what it means to be a high-performing athlete in your 30s. Originally from Singapore and now based in Boston, USA, Aisyah grew up with four brothers and discovered rowing after being scouted during an indoor competition at school. With limited rowing culture and opportunities in Singapore, she carved her own path—training overseas in Sydney, qualifying through a fiercely competitive Asian selection process, and representing Singapore on the world stage. But her journey hasn't been linear. From struggling with pressure at her first Olympics to working with mental skills coach Hansen Bay, from stepping away from elite sport to rediscovering her love for movement, from fracturing her ribs a month before Paris to qualifying with just six months to go—this is a powerful conversation about identity, resilience, vulnerability, and growth. Now working as a HYDROW Athlete and Mental Performance Coach with 3HP Athlete Coaching, Aisyah shares insights on: Building confidence and resilienceLetting go of expectationsSeparating identity from performanceThe realities of returning to elite sport after time awayTraining and mindset during pregnancyWhy rowing is a lifelong sportHer philosophy of the 3Hs: Happy, Healthy & High Performing This episode is about trusting your timing, embracing new chapters, and asking yourself: Is this smart for me? Aisyah's story is proof that it's never "too late" to chase a dream — and that high performance can evolve with you. *** New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries. Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Your support makes a difference. Thank you x *** Show notes Who is AisyahBeing based in Boston, USAOriginally from Singapore Working as a HYDROW Athlete Working as a Mental Performance Coach3HP Athlete Coaching 2x Olympic rower in the single sculllCompeting at the 2016 and 2024 Olympics Learning to live a normal life outside of sports Growing up in Singapore with 4 brothers3 older brothers and 1 younger brotherBeing sporty and learning to be competitive Living a simple life and being raised by her mum after her parents got divorcedNot knowing where her mindset comes fromWanting to be the best version of herself Not being surrounded by high performance individuals Starting rowing, Singapore not having much of a rowing culture Getting scouted at her secondary school during an indoor rowing competition Singapore Rowing AssociationThe importance of hight in rowing 5'8 (173cm)and being tall for an Asian Woman Learning how to row on land with the ergo The challenges and continuing to show u to training Not enjoying it at firstGetting out on the water and spending more time in the water than on the waterThe lack of opportunities in SingaporeWhy the Olympics was not on her radar Wanting to be the best at it and wanting to represent Singapore Team sport (Netball) V individual endeavours (Rower)The South East Asia GamesRowing in a single scullWinning gold in 2013 and beating a 2x Olympian Quitting her job and training full time in Australian When the seed got planted about going to the OlympicsDeciding to go and train over in Sydney, Australia Building confidence and winning competitions Qualifying for the 2016 Olympics - the Asian Qualification Criteria for that cycle 16 countries competing for 7 spotsDealing with the pressure of going to the Olympics and being able to perform at the highest level The weight of expectation and not being able to perform Working with the mental skills coach Hansen BayThe power of letting go of expectations, facing the fear, how losing can tie into identity, building confidence and resilienceThe practical side of mental preparation Communication and trust Learning how to be vulnerable Why it took more than 1 session Taking an 8 year gap and what happened Trying to retire from sports and wanting to focus on her career2018 and deciding to do some soul searching and heading to the USA to work as a rowing coach in BostonMeeting her current husbandGetting into marathon running and thinking about trying out for the Paris Olympics2023 - visiting ParisThinking she was too old to row in the Olympics in her 30sHaving 6 months to qualify for the Paris Olympics Qualifying in April 2024 ...
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