Raphaël Ahumada juggles architecture and rowing

Raphaël Ahumada is an early riser, starting every day at 5 am. “Discipline is a habit you have to learn,” he explains. “It takes a lot of self-control to juggle life as an elite rower with first-year architecture studies at ENAC [EPFL’s School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering]. I’ve always strived to reach my full potential.” When he isn’t competing in international races, Ahumada spends most of his time at the Swiss Rowing Center on the shores of Lake Sarnen in Obwalden Canton. There, he follows a strict routine that includes early-morning mediation, intensive training sessions on the lake, balanced meals and power naps. He also carves out time in his busy schedule for his studies.

I’ve always felt this need to do something alongside rowing. Combining study and competitive sport gives me the balance I’m looking for.

Ahumada is a rising star of the sport. After taking gold at the World Rowing Cup in Belgrade in May, followed by bronze at the European Rowing Championships in Munich in August, he’s set his sights on competing at the 2024 Olympic Games. “Taking part would be a dream come true,” he says. With this goal in mind, Ahumada decided to study architecture while continuing rowing at the top level. He joined EPFL on the specialist track for elite athletes, which allows qualifying students to extend the length of their degree programs and attend classes virtually. “I’ve always felt this need to do something alongside rowing,” he explains. “Combining study and competitive sport gives me the balance I’m looking for.”

Ahumada currently competes in the elite lightweight doubles – an event that will disappear from the Olympic program after 2024. That’s why he’s laser-focused on making it to the Paris games, after which he plans to devote himself to his studies full-time.

Effective note-taking
Despite an early preference for civil engineering, Ahumada ultimately decided to study architecture. As he explains, it’s a discipline that lets him express his practical and creative side while drawing on principles from math and physics – subjects he found easy at school. With his first year at ENAC under his belt, he has no regrets about his choice. And, as with his sporting endeavor, he’s putting as much time and effort as he can into succeeding in his studies, despite attending classes remotely. “I’ve become really effective at note-taking,” he says with a smile. For now, Ahumada isn’t putting too much thought into a possible future career as an architect: “What matters most is enjoying what I’m doing, progressing, keeping an open mind and pushing myself to do my best.”

Before taking to the water of Lake Geneva, Ahumada, who hails from Denges in Vaud Canton, had dreamed of becoming a hockey player since the age of six. But that all changed when he received a letter inviting him to attend a week of taster sessions at Forward Rowing Club in Morges. Encouraged by his aunt, herself a rower in German-speaking Switzerland, he signed up for the classes. It proved to be an eye-opening experience: he discovered an amazing team spirit, a great atmosphere and a strong sense of camaraderie toward younger squad members. This led him to make a difficult decision: giving up hockey and taking up rowing instead. “It’s a sport that has everything. I progressed quickly and started winning races. It also helps that I’m tall,” says Ahumada, who stands at 1.84 meters high.

Ahumada comes from an active family who enjoy walking, rollerblading and cycling. His 19-year-old sister, Thalia, is also an accomplished rower and now trains at the same club in Sarnen. Like her brother, she was drawn to the sport by the atmosphere and team spirit, abandoning a promising career as a synchronized swimmer to take up the discipline.

Elite rowing demands a precise command of technique. “You have to stay in the moment at all times,” explains Ahumada. “It’s about making every stroke as efficient as possible – and about managing pain, which can get quite intense over a 2,000-meter course.” So when he returns home on rest days, physical activity is out of the question. Instead, he enjoys spending quality downtime with his family and friends.