Silas Stafford

Men’s Eight

Hometown: Santa Rosa, Calif.

Current Residence: Stanford, Calif.

Club Affiliation: Stanford University

Began Rowing: 2004 -- UCLA

Date of Birth: 4/27/1986  

Height: 6’4”  

Weight: 200

High School: Santa Rosa High School

Undergraduate Education: Stanford University, 2008

Graduate Education: Cambridge University, MPhil, 2009

Current Coaches: Craig Amerkhanian, Topher Bordeau, Mike Callahan

Years on National Team: Two -- 2007-08, Under 23

International Results: Placed fourth in the eight at the 2007 FISA World Rowing Under 23 Championships.

National Results: Tied for second in the varsity eight at the 2007 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championships...Won gold in the championship four at the 2006 Head of the Charles...Took silver in the varsity eight at the 2006 Pac-10 Championships...Won the Copley Cup at the 2006 San Diego Crew Classic.

Personal: Silas likes to write songs, cycle and backpack in his spare time. Before every race, Silas eats granola and GU. He wears his power-speed socks for important races. Racing at the Head of the Charles in 2006, running a 4:26-minute mile in high school and winning a silver medal at the IRA Championships are among his most memorable sporting achievements. Silas chose rowing because as he went through puberty, he got slower at running and needed to find something more competitive, so his sister suggested rowing. He lists his high school track coach and his brother as the most influential people in his athletic career because they showed Silas the value of hard work. He hopes to win an Olympic gold medal someday and win as many important races as possible until then.