Angus Dawson is a sophomore at Cal and is currently set to race in the Australian M8+ at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
When I started at high school in 2014 my brother Hugh was in year 11 and was rowing in the First VIII. Not really taking a liking to cricket or tennis, it seemed like it would be a good alternative. Hugh held onto the best 2km erg score the school had seen for a while, and I wasn’t looking like I’d be that crack hot on the erg. With a bit of confidence he said that every year I beat his 2km erg score, he’d give me $100.
To date, I haven’t seen any of the money but I think he owes me close to $400.
2. Was there a practice, race or other event when you fell in love with the sport, or when you knew you might not be too bad at rowing? When you thought you could make the national team?
In 2018 I raced the U19M2X at the national championships. It was my first real taste of rowing outside of high school eights. In the final we were fourth at the 1000m and came through the field to win. The enjoyment of winning on a larger stage definitely sparked a desire in me to pursue more. From there on, it has just been approaching everything like you have nothing to lose and everything to prove. Getting in the A final of the senior pair at NSW state champs, I realized that it could be possible to make the team.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
Best race I’ve had would have been at the 2019 U23 world championships in the M4+. Even though we only won by 0.8, we went out and executed exactly what we said we’d do. Lead from start to finish.
Worst race I’ve had was in the U23 M1x at the national championships that year. Blew a gasket with 50m to go and got rowed out of a medal. Then proceeded to fall in sitting at the finish, and be dragged out by a rescue crew in front of the whole crowd.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
Hard to do much these days without people finding out!
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Enjoy having the time to play as many sports as you can while you have the chance. I played Aussie rules football and rugby all the way through high school and into my first year out. It meant that when I decided to commit to rowing fully, I had no regrets and could throw myself at it 100%.
Hometown: Dingabledinga, AUS
Club Affiliation: Adelaide Rowing Club
Date of Birth: October 30, 2000
Height: 6'3"
High School: St. Peter's College
Education: University of California-Berkeley
Current Coaches: Jason Lane
National Teams: Two - Under 23 2019; Olympic, 2020
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