Saiyidah Aisyah

Saiyidah Aisyah binte Mohamed Rafa’ee (born 20 April 1988), commonly known as Aisyah, is a Singaporean rower. She placed 23rd in the women's single sculls event at the 2016 Summer Olympics, making her Singapore's first Olympic rower.

Early life and career Saiyidah Aisyah binte Mohamed Rafa'ee was born on 20 April 1988 in Singapore. Of Malay ethnicity, she played netball in her youth and was in Netball Singapore's 15 and Under National Squad in 2003. Aisyah was a Student Development Officer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic which she resigned in August 2015 to train full time for the Olympics Games.

Rowing career In 2013, Aisyah won the gold medal in the women's single sculls event at the 2013 SEA Games, the first rowing gold medal for Singapore.

2016 Olympics In 2015, Aisyah moved to Sydney, Australia, to train to qualify for the women's single sculls event at the 2016 Summer Olympics. However she failed to secure Team Singapore's Sports Excellence Scholarship and had to rely on her savings to fund her training. Aisyah would later received the Sports Excellence Scholarship in March. In June, Singaporean fried chicken restaurant chain 4Fingers Crispy Chicken, sponsored Aisyah for three months with a total of S$6,000 and part of the proceeds from sales of its burgers. In the semifinals, Saiyidah was placed last again and competed in the D finals.

2024 Olympics In October 2023, after meeting other Olympians during an Olympics Broadcast Training Programme, Aisyah decided to make a comeback for the 2024 Summer Olympics. To qualify for the Olympics Games, she had to finish in the first five out of six competitors but she finished sixth.

Sporting achievements 2015 SEA Games, Women's Lightweight Single Sculls (LW1X) 1000m - Bronze 2015 SEA Games, Women's Lightweight Single Sculls (LW1X) 500m - Bronze 2013 Myanmar SEA Games, Women's Lightweight Single Sculls – Gold 2011 Jakarta SEA Games, Women's Single Sculls – Bronze 2011 Jakarta SEA Games, Women's Pair – Bronze 2007 Jakarta SEA Games, Women's Lightweight Single Sculls – Bronze