George Washington University Athletics
Aquil Abdullah Makes U.S. Olympic Rowing Team
7/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
July 2, 2004
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Aquil Abdullah '95 became the third rower with ties to the George Washington rowing program to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Rowing Team. Abdullah teamed with Henry Gantt Nuzum to win the double skulls competition at the Olympic Small Boat Trials in West Windsor, N.J. on June 30.
The pair clocked a time of 6:23.59 in the event to defeat Ken Jurkowski and Adam Holland in the second final. The duo is one of seven U.S. crews that have qualified for the Olympic Games, which will be held in Athens, Greece from August 13-29. The remaining five boats that will make up the squad will be selected by the USRowing coaches on July 7.
Abdullah attended Wilson High School in Washington D.C. and is one of the most decorated rowers in GW history. In the summer of 2003 he placed 11th at the World Championship as the United States' representative in the heavyweight single sculler race. He also helped the U.S. men's crew to a fourth-place finish at the 2001 World Championship in the heavyweight quadruple skulls. In 1999 he won a silver medal at the Pan-American Games in the heavyweight single. Abdullah also won the diamond skulls event (men's heavyweight single) at the Royal English Henley in 2000 and the 1999 U.S. National Championship in the same event.
Abdullah joins Michelle Knox-Zaloom '86, who competed at the1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, and Tina Brown '90, who also raced at the 1992 Olympics, as former GW rowers that have represented the United States at the Summer Games.
Abdullah is also the first African -American rower in U.S. history to qualify for the Olympic team.
