Duluth Native rows his way across the pond for an international competition

The University of Minnesota’s motto is Row The Boat, and student-athlete Samuel Javaherian did just that across the pond to London.

From the water to the boats, it all comes naturally for Javaherian, as he started rowing when he was 13 years old after he moved to Duluth, and a short time later, he joined the Duluth Rowing Club.

“That’s where I started because it was the place like in Duluth that had rowing. I remember vividly my family walking down the Lakewalk one day, and I saw the boathouse and said, oh, that’s cool. So that’s where I started, and I rode there for five years,” said Javaherian.

A study-abord semester in London and rowing there for a club team; led him to where he is currently set to take part in his first international rowing competition a part of the Henley Royal Regatta.

“I just wanted to continue to train for the upcoming spring season back in Minnesota. A side goal was also like being able to get asked back to come and race here at Henley. I just had to be fast enough and row enough for them to see the benefits of allowing me to come back and race, and evidently, they did.”

Javaherian will have a ton of experience to bring to the water when he competes. “I’m very adaptable in terms of my rowing abilities, so it’s very easy for me to slide into a new boat. That’s been good to get our boat up to speed just because people have a lot of different running styles. For me to be able to transition in from one to the other, and I think Duluth helped me with that mostly.”

When it comes to his excitement level for this opportunity, it’s going to be one that can’t be forgotten. “I’m competing at the high level, which is super cool in and of itself. Mostly it’s just cool that this exists where someone like me can compete on the same stage, and it’s super cool.”

His London team will race the Henley On Thames, on Wednesday, June 28th, at 8:30 am Central Time..2:30 pm British Time.