CHOW Felice Aisha

General
BREAK AND RETURN
After graduating from the University of Miami in 1999 she took a 10-year break from the sport while she completed her PhD and advanced her biotechnology research career. She returned to rowing for fun before entering local masters race events [for people over age 27] and then elite races. "I still row because I haven't figured it all out yet. When I peak, I might consider quitting but I am still getting faster and fitter and still working on my catch timing, so that keeps me motivated." (worldrowing.com, 30 Nov 2020; newsday.co.tt, 27 Mar 2016; gobair.org, 22 Jul 2018)

DUAL CITIZEN
She holds dual citizenship of Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America. She discovered the opportunity to represent Trinidad and Tobago after they joined the World Rowing Federation [formerly FISA] in November 2015. "Trinidad had joined FISA because they had a Trini guy who's living in the UK, I think a Para athlete, but that didn't pan out. Someone who was in touch told me about this, so I just wrote to them and said, 'Hey I heard you guys joined FISA, and now you don't have an athlete. I'm a rower', and basically they said yes. Technically I could [compete at the US Olympic trials] but it's not right, I don't want to interfere with anyone's shot. That's not my opportunity, that's the US team's opportunity." (row-360.com, 12 Aug 2020)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
She works as an associate director at FibroGen, a biotechnology company in San Francisco, CA, United States of America. "While it's logistically challenging trying to squeeze in long training hours and a full-time job, they are actually great complements. Rowing is a respite from my job and vice versa, so I don't overdo or get sick of either." She has also been a volunteer sculling coordinator, board member and president at the Bair Island Aquatic Center, a non-profit organisation that offers community paddling, rowing, and sculling programmes in San Francisco. (LinkedIn profile, 01 May 2020; eastbaytimes.com, 26 Apr 2016; worldrowing.com, 30 Nov 2020; gobair.org, 22 Jul 2018)

FURTHER EDUCATION
In 2005 she earned a PhD in pharmacology from Duke University in Durham, NC, United States of America. (Athlete, 19 Jul 2021; newsday.co.tt, 27 Mar 2016; LinkedIn profile, 01 May 2020)

At 39 years and 59 days, she became the oldest female athlete to represent Trinidad and Tobago in any sport at the Olympic Games when she took part in the single sculls at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. With her appearance at the event, she was also the first rower to represent Trinidad and Tobago at an Olympic Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 23 Apr 2021; trinidadexpress.com, 25 Mar 2016)