When we talk about athletes, it’s easy for their sporting accomplishments to dominate the conversation. This focus often overlooks a key aspect: athletes are so much more than what they achieve as an athlete. They are multidimensional individuals with unique stories, passions, and pursuits that deserve recognition. This winter, I’m diving deeper into the lives of athletes in the rowing world, uncovering the bigger narratives behind their successes. The first instalment of this series features Evan Park, a rising star in U.S. rowing.
I was introduced to Evan through a teammate of mine who’s currently rowing at the University of Washington. From the moment I heard her story, I knew she was someone I had to sit down with.
Evan’s journey to success in rowing has been nothing short of remarkable. She only took up the sport in the fall of 2021, after graduating from the American Overseas School of Rome in 2020, right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of diving straight into online classes, Evan took a gap year to simply “live life”—a decision that would eventually shape her future in ways she hadn’t imagined. The following year, she enrolled at Oregon State University (OSU) to study Chemistry, entering in her second year thanks to her International Baccalaureate credits from high school.
Growing up in Bend, Oregon, rowing was not part of the local sports culture. While her parents rowed at the University of Oregon, Evan had no external push to follow in their footsteps. Despite this, the idea of becoming a Division I athlete with no prior rowing experience was a challenge that intrigued her. She was able to deliver on this challenge, and in just two years, that challenge turned into triumph: in 2023, Evan helped lead the US Women’s eight to a gold medal at the U23 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
The Fast Track to U23 Glory
Evan’s trajectory took an unexpected turn in her second year of rowing. After submitting impressive erg scores, she was invited to trial for the US U23 team. The idea was exhilarating and intimidating—she was still relatively new to the sport. A teammate who had gone through a similar experience encouraged her to take the leap, and Evan made the push. Despite the initial fear of stepping into unfamiliar territory, the camaraderie and support from her fellow athletes made all the difference. The shared goal was at the heart of the experience: to create the fastest possible boat, regardless of who was in it. This experience has been fundamental in Evan’s development as an athlete and person, as the success of the boat was so much greater than the result they achieved.
It was during this time that Evan truly grasped what “fast” meant beyond her own training environment. It’s easy to feel fast when you’re in a familiar setting, but when you’re surrounded by top-tier athletes from different programs, you quickly learn where you stand. Evan’s U23 World Championship experience was transformative. Her crew “clicked,” and their bond of knowing when to be serious and when to have fun became a key ingredient for their success. This culminated in winning the 2023 U23 World Rowing Championships. She credits much of this chemistry to her coach, Sarah Trowbridge, and the supportive culture she fostered within the team.
A New Chapter at the University of Washington
After completing her Chemistry degree at OSU in just three years, Evan was ready for the next chapter—both academically and athletically. As she explored options for graduate school, she prioritized programs with strong science curricula and a solid rowing team as a bonus. Ultimately, the University of Washington (UW) offered the best of both worlds. The decision was a leap into something entirely new, and Evan hasn’t looked back since. When you learn to row in a college rowing program, how it runs and operates is the only thing you know in the sport of rowing; it is terrifying to make the leap to something new.
At UW, she’s become fully immersed in the team’s collective goal: winning the NCAA championships in June 2025. This year is particularly exciting, with a roster that includes several national team members and transfer athletes. The team’s top eight is shaping up to be a powerhouse—often described as an “all-star” lineup. In October, Evan and her Husky teammates earned an impressive third-place finish at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta. This result is an exciting beginning for the Husky Women heading into their championship season this spring. They know they are competitive, even when this race was just one month into much of the top eight arriving at UW.
Life Beyond Rowing
While much of this article has followed the traditional athlete profile—detailing Evan’s entry into the sport, her athletic achievements, and her academic pursuits—there’s so much more to her story. Outside rowing, Evan is a passionate musician, embraces the Pacific Northwest, dabbles in modelling, and is involved in student-athlete leadership.
She plays the bass guitar and has recently started a band in Seattle. (If anyone has ideas for a band name, Evan is all ears!) Since moving to Seattle, Evan has embraced the opportunity to explore the stunning natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, from hiking to weekend getaways in the mountains. But her interests go beyond music and nature. Evan has signed up with a modelling agency and has done some photoshoots for them. Her long term dream is to collaborate with Concept 2, so if you see this, Evan is ready. At both Oregon State and UW, she’s been actively involved in student-athlete leadership initiatives. At Oregon State, she participated in student-athlete leadership, where she helped athletes navigate the challenges posed by the dissolution of the PAC-12 conference, particularly its impact on the rowing program. At UW, she’s a member of the UW Athlete Ally and took part in teammate Cillian Mullen’s 100km ergathon, erging a shift and helped with fundraising for the Trans Day of Remembrance, raising funds for Lambert House and Ingersoll Gender Centre.
Looking Ahead
Evan’s aspirations stretch far beyond her current successes. In the immediate future, she’s focused on making the 2028 US Olympic team. But even beyond the Olympic Games, Evan emphasizes that her career has no expiration date. As long as she enjoys the process and continues to grow, she’s in it for the long haul.
Her commitment to excellence isn’t confined to the water. Evan is deeply passionate about climate change and intends to use her chemistry background to make a tangible impact on the world. She’s determined to contribute to solutions that address the global climate crisis—further proof that her ambitions extend far beyond rowing.
Evan Park’s story is a testament to the fact that an athlete’s journey is never just about the medals or the regattas—it’s about the larger impact they make, both within their sport and in the world around them. It takes a special person to balance and achieve all that Evan has done, and I have no doubt that she will continue to do so both on and off the water.
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