Dara Alizadeh admits the reality that he will be competing at a second Olympic Games has still not sunk in.

Having previously competed in the single sculls at the 2021 Games in Tokyo, Alizadeh sealed his spot in Paris this summer after finishing fourth at the World Rowing Americas Regatta in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last weekend.

While that achievement was the realisation of a long-term ambition, the 30-year-old conceded he has not yet had the opportunity to appreciate the magnitude of again representing Bermuda on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

“I had been envisioning that moment of qualifying for a long time, but after such a hard race and going through an emotional roller-coaster, I don’t think I really it really hit me when I crossed the line because I was running on fumes,” said Alizadeh, who is the third rower to represent Bermuda at the Olympics along with James Butterfield [1972] and Michelle Pearson [2016].

“I hadn’t really thought about what qualifying would actually mean to me because this regatta was all about just earning my spot and getting over that major hurdle

“I knew qualifying would be harder this time and so I didn’t want to get ahead of myself, my sole focus was just on the race itself.

“I haven’t really had the chance to sit, stop and reflect on the fact that I’m going to a second Olympic Games. However, I will definitely find the time to appreciate the bigger picture and enjoy the moment of getting the job done.

“It’s been a wild few days so I’ll need a few days to spend time with my family and have a chance to decompress a bit.

“It’s going to be incredibly special to go to the Olympic Games again, but I’ll be honest it still hasn’t quite sunk in.

“Having the chance to able to represent Bermuda on the world rowing stage is very special as well.

“After Jim Butterfield there was such a big gap to Shelley Pearson, but now we are set to have had a Bermudian rower at the three successive Olympics, which is pretty amazing.”

Even though this will not be his first taste of the Games itself, Alizadeh is relishing the opportunity to experience a more conventional Olympics after his first in Tokyo was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Obviously I’ve already done it once and so that novelty of the first time won’t be the same, but the funny thing is my first Games were during Covid and so that experience was totally different,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to being able to experience a more conventional Games with fans in the stadium and also being able to have my family being there as well.”

Allowing himself to reflect on the significance of a second Olympic appearance, Alizadeh is determined to appreciate the experience more than at his first Games with his future in the sport still far from certain.

On the back of his highly respectable eighteenth-place finish at the rescheduled Games in Tokyo, Alizadeh opted to step away from the sport before returning after a little more than a year. Should Paris ultimately prove his final competitive experience, the Bermudian wants to able to look back with no regrets.

“I learnt a lot from the last Olympics and afterwards it got to the point where I really wasn’t enjoying it and I even considered quitting the sport,” said Alizadeh, who is planning to race in in World Cup races in Lucerne [Switzerland in May] and Poznan [Poland in June] in preparation for the Olympics.

“It made me realise that no matter I want to enjoy the experience this time around. The most important thing is to enjoy the whole experience and truly appreciate the moment.

“If it proves to be my last race then I want to enjoy that last ride and not stress about the things I can’t control.

“I know I am capable of doing what I want to be able to achieve and so I want to savour the experience and take nothing for granted.

“I have to take time to enjoy these moments so when I do finish I will be able to walk away happy and be able to look back with good memories.”