From Feb. 15-18, BVH alum Azja Czajkowski raced in a winter speed order—a competitive event where rowers compete in various categories—which decided who would participate in the Paris trials competition to qualify for the 2024 Olympics. Going through this process, Czajkowski recently qualified to compete in rowing for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Czajkowski has been rowing since her sophomore year of high school at BVH and has constantly worked towards going further in rowing.
“I felt like it was going to be one of those ‘what if’ things if I didn’t go for it. I don’t want to find myself 20 years down the line wondering if [the Olympics] would have been possible if I just put the energy into it at the right time,” Czajkowski said.
Biology Accelerated, AP Biology and IB Biology teacher Michelle Mardahl was one of Czajkowski’s teachers while she attended BVH. Mardahl explains how she has observed the amount of time Czajkowski has put into rowing and what it took to get to where she is in her career.
“I’m sure she had to work through injuries. You have to sacrifice a lot of time. You spend hours and hours in that boat when you want to be studying or hanging out with your friends,” Mardahl said.
Throughout her time knowing Czajkowski, Mardahl observed the dedication that she put towards her rowing career early on. Mardahl describes the traits she saw in Czajkowski during high school that she knew would benefit her later in life.
“She’s a normal kid. You would never know she’s a genius [or how] talented [she is]. We knew in high school that it was a possibility that she would make it to the Olympics,” Mardahl said.
Patrick Kington is part of the San Diego Rowing Club and started working with Czajkowski in 2015. Kington was her coach at the start of her career and has supported her ever since. He was one of her many supporters during the Paris trials, congratulating her for her accomplishments.
“I told several people when she was in high school that I thought she’d be an Olympian. I’ve probably worked with around a thousand athletes in my career. And if you make a list of all the traits that someone needs to have, I really think she checks as many boxes as anyone I’ve ever worked with,” Kington said.
Mardahl and Kington both emphasize the many characteristics they see in Czajkowski they believe have allowed her to qualify for the Olympics. The competitions leading up to her qualifying for the Olympics were not simple. It took many hours of practice in order for Czajkowski and the others she was rowing with to be prepared for them.
“From the time she was about seventeen on, it was like she had all [of] the things you need to be able to do this. And [if] she decided to really commit to it, I think she’s got a really good shot. And turns out, she did,” Kington said.
Although it was clear who would qualify towards the end of the trials, Czajkowski and even Kington were immersed with joy. However, the trials were not the only set of challenges that Czajkowski faced in her journey to qualify for the Olympics. No matter the challenge, she put her all into what she wanted for her future.
“When they were heading into the Olympic trials, it was very clear that she was in a good position. When she hit the finish line, it was just joy. [She] had done so well in the earlier rounds of racing that I knew she’d be disappointed if she didn’t win the final round,” Kington said.
Czajkowski is not a stranger to competitions and she is aware of what she must do to perform her best. Kington describes a time when Czajkowski dedicated much time to perform better in future competitions, after having been disappointed from her placement during her season. Czajkowski adds how it was difficult due to the fact that the people she was competing against were the best rowers on their college teams.
“Your new teammates are these Olympians, world champions and these insane athletes who you’ve looked up to your entire career and all of a sudden they’re your competition, which is a super cool feeling. But it’s also really hard to stay internal and remember that you’re good at what you do, and you’re there for a reason,” Czajkowski said.
Czajkowski’s potential throughout her career in rowing shines through and is seen by many including Kington and Mardahl. Her success in qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics is just one example of what her career may entail. Czajkowski shares what she looks forward to participating in the Olympics.
“It’s super fun to be brought into something that’s bigger than just you, with people who are so invested in it. Everybody who’s the best in their sport is going to be there. And rowing isn’t really the headliner. But just being part of something like that is insane,” Czajkowski said.
