Andrew Campbell Jr

Rising Star – February 2015

Lightweight sculler Andrew Campbell Jr, from the USA, earned his first international medal in 2010 – a World Championship bronze in the junior men’s single sculls. The following year, he added yet another bronze to his new collection, this time in the under-23 lightweight men’s single sculls. In 2012, he accomplished the same feat, adding a third World Championship bronze medal to his growing collection, but that year at the senior level at just 20 years of age. He has since become an under-23 World Champion twice in the lightweight single.

With his rowing career still largely ahead of him, World Rowing looks forward to seeing Campbell continue to rise in the sport of rowing.

I row because… it gives me a chance to improve with every day. 

My favourite moment in 2014 was… The Head of the Charles – I defended my home course and saw lots of friends. 

In 2015 I hope to… qualify the US for the Olympic lightweight double… and not flip in any races. 

My sporting hero is… my childhood friend Nick Howard. He doesn’t row but can always beat me in a 100m erg race. 

My favourite training session is… 2x1500m in the weeks leading up to a big race. 

My least favourite training session is…4k of light steady state on the day before a big race.

A typical day for me… involves lots of eating. 

What motivates me most is… getting back to the dock so I can go eat. 

My preferred rowing venue is… the Charles River basin with a 12 km/h tailwind.

If I could form a dream crew… from bow to stroke: John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman, Jerry Garcia, Beyonce, Abraham Lincoln, Goku, me, and Florian Mayr. Coxed by Bilbo Baggins and coached by Bill Belichick. 

When I am not rowing, I… work at a financial technology startup called Quantopian. 

If I was an animal, I would be… a Labradoodle because they are great fluffy dogs and everyone wants to pet them. 

In ten years’ time… I’ll be riding around in a hovercraft celebrating my victory in the heavyweight M1x at the 2024 Boston Olympics.

For more on Campbell Jr – click here.