[S2] Ep. 4 - Dammie Onafeko: Losing Sight, Finding Vision
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After losing his vision to glaucoma and cataracts in his 30s, Dammie Onafeko was introduced to Capital Rowing Club’s adaptive program at the Anacostia Community Boathouse in Washington, D.C. where he quickly found success at regattas, and the support of his rowing family.
Rachel had an unfair advantage because – even though she hadn’t met Dammie before this interview – she’d known of Dammie for a long time. For 20 years, she’s rowed, coached, and coxed for clubs out of the same boathouse as Capital Adaptive. And Dammie is hard to miss around the boathouse: at 6’5”, this Nigerian man is a presence.
TIME STAMPS
Jump to what interests you:
0:00 - Intro
3:40 - What’s going on in your rowing week?
5:50 - COVID’s effect on the 2020 season
10:15 - Rowing origin story
16:05 - Sounds and feelings of rowing
27:45 - Mental maps, canes, and touch
30:58 - Hopes for the 2021 season
33:05 - Finding family and life skills through rowing
38:58 - Rapid Fire Q&A
[S2] Ep 4 Mentions
A Most Beautiful Thing
Anacostia Community Boathouse
Arshay Cooper
BAYADA Regatta
Capital Rowing Club
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind