A Northeastern University commit, senior Michael Kourakos has been rowing since his sophomore year, averaging 24 hours of practice a week. He was a struggling student as he is neurodivergent and has ADHD so he said he had to work harder than other students just to get his work done, let alone be an exceptional student.

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At first, Kourakos couldn’t find a sport he enjoyed, he said, but he wanted to channel his competitive energy somewhere. It wasn’t until “fate” brought him to Miami and a classmate recommended the rowing team.

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“Little did I know that I had walked into the most challenging team sport in the world. Days in, I almost quit, blown away by how physically demanding it was; however, one day, we used the rowing machine as part of our learn-to-row sessions, and I was the fastest,” Kourakos said. “A kid who had failed and underachieved his whole life, under the belief that because he was different, couldn’t succeed, won something for the first time.”

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The physically demanding sport became his new hyperfixation, he said: He applied the discipline he gained from rowing and slowly but surely, it turned his life around. He began getting better grades, gold medals, even state championships.

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“Rowing has changed my life in two years more than some people change at all; to the point where I am still unable to recognize myself.” Kourakos says, “This sport has given me the most extraordinary opportunities and made me into the person I am today, and for that, no matter what happens in the sport, I will forever be grateful.”

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Now that he has reached the collegiate level, surpassing any expectation he could have set for himself growing up, his dreams now lay in the next level. He aims to enter selection for the US national team within the next year, but he has not forgotten his roots and is extremely grateful for everything his sport has given him.

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“I don’t want to tell my story for praise or pity, and although only a few people know of my sport, the lessons it has taught me are priceless. I want people who were once in my spot to see that they are not victims of their situation and are entirely in control of their lives. I am still new to the sport and this new version of myself, and every day, I am still trying to understand it. However, I will embrace whatever the future holds for me with open arms and utilize the lessons this sport has taught me in every aspect of my life."