Rowing and Resilience: Eli Margolin’s Push for the Podium

When Eli Margolin lines up at the start in Shanghai for the World Rowing Championships, she’ll be carrying more than just her oar. She’ll be carrying the weight of years of training, a demanding PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania, and the pride of representing her country as a Para athlete.

“The intensity has ramped up, both physically and mentally,” Margolin says of her preparation. “Leading up to Worlds, every stroke is done with a focus on getting on that podium.”

That commitment means days that start before sunrise. “I’m up at 5:30 a.m. so I can make breakfast and get to the boathouse by 6:15,” she says. After three hours on the water, she heads home for “second breakfast” before turning to her other major project: finishing the last year of her PhD dissertation. By afternoon, it’s back to the boathouse for a second practice, and then she carves out time to FaceTime with her partner and friends before lights out at 10 p.m.

Her journey to the national team hasn’t been easy. Margolin, who lives with Multiple Sclerosis, even completed a week of chemotherapy during this year’s selection camp. “Navigating the side effects while trying to stay competitive was tough,” she admits. “I’m incredibly grateful that the coaches and training staff understand what it means to work with Para rowers and supported me in every possible way.”

That support, along with the drive of her training partners, keeps her going when things get difficult. “My teammates are constantly giving it their absolute all, and I owe it to them to do the same,” she says.

For Margolin, competing on the world stage is about more than just sport. “The opportunities for someone living with MS have improved dramatically over the past 20 years because of research funded by the NSF and NIH,” she says. “I am proud to represent that progress globally.”

She also hopes people will better understand what it means to be a Para athlete. “Para athletes follow the same training plan and train just as hard as the non-Para senior team,” she explains. “At the end of the day, we’re one team and we’re all in on bringing home gold.”

Her biggest cheerleader is her partner, Julius, who has been by her side through every early alarm and erg session. “He’s from LA, so my goal is to medal at home in 2028 with both our families there.”

And for young athletes chasing their own national team dreams, Margolin has this advice: “There isn’t just one path to a national team. The best path is the one that keeps your love of the sport alive and makes you wake up every day excited to train.”