Jackson-Reed has its fair share of prominent athletes, but one takes it all: Aquil Abdullah. His success, however, is less celebrated, perhaps because he’s a rower. Abdullah was one of the first African Americans to receive national recognition in crew and has broken incredible boundaries for diversity in the sport.
Abdullah attended JR (then Wilson) for high school and was a star wide receiver for the football team. Senior year, searching for a spring sport, his friends suggested he take up rowing. Abdullah picked it up with ease and rowed at George Washington University on a scholarship from 1992 to 1996, earning a varsity letter all four years. In 1996, he graduated with a degree in physics.
In a 2004 Washington Post article, Abdullah shared his humility and humor, two traits that carried with him throughout his time as an athlete. “I’m just a regular Joe who happened to try rowing and got lucky that it matched the talent I actually have.”
Abdullah’s athletic career did not stop at the collegiate level. He went on to win a silver medal in the 1999 Pan-American. Abdullah was the first African American man to win the Diamond Challenge Scull at the Henley Royal Regatta in 2000.
Abdullah also experienced his fair share of setbacks, having lost by 0.3 seconds in the 2000 Olympic trials. He turned this experience into an opportunity and co-authored a book, Perfect Balance, about his experience as a nationally prominent African American sculler.
The 0.3 seconds proved to only motivate Abdullah more and he competed in both the 2001 and 2002 World Rowing Championships. Seeking Olympic revenge, he placed first in the 2004 Athens Olympic trials and made the finals for men’s doubles. That same year, Abdullah became the first African American man on the United States Olympic rowing team. This was the only US men’s doubles team to reach the finals since 1984.
Abdullah has also been a champion for promoting diversity and equality in the sport. In that same Post article, “I understand I have a responsibility if I can help bring the sport to more people,” Abdullah shared. Abdullah took on this responsibility with enthusiasm and was an advocate throughout his entire career. He coached the first African American and Latino crew to compete at Head of Charles from 1998 to 1999 and has served, both in the past and now, on several advisory boards. Particularly, he serves on a subcommittee of the Head of Charles Regatta, working to increase diversity. •
