SRA Story: Hans Struzyna

What started out as a way for his family to enjoy a fun summer activity together turned into a life changing opportunity for SRA Junior Program alum, Hans Struzyna. It started in 2004 when Struzyna’s family struggled together in the slough in some Alden singles as they discovered the sport of rowing as a family with a few casual private lessons. Casually, a coach mentioned that SRA had a junior team. That inspired Struzyna, as well as his younger sister Allie, to join a 3 week summer session where he was able to take part in the Greenlake Summer Extravaganza. All it took was a 1k trip down the course and he was hooked. That casual summer regatta started him on a path that would shape his future in an incredibly profound way.

Struzyna’s high school graduating class was quite small— only 82 kids. For him, SRA became a big extension of his community since it served as a conduit to kids from every major school on the Eastside. “My social circle and world view opened up massively which was a huge plus for me,” Struzyna said about joining the junior program. “It was an opportunity to meet new people, work hard and do something totally different than I had done before.” SRA welcomes adults and youths from many different cities and schools so rowers have a unique opportunity to connect with the greater community at our boathouse on the north end of Lake Sammamish. 

During his junior year, his second year in the sport, Struzyna earned a spot in the M4x that went undefeated through regionals that year and ended up placing third at nationals— SRA’s first national medal ever. During his senior year, he and his teammates took a 4x to the Henley Royal Regatta that completely changed his perspective of the sport. “From this little boathouse with no running water to Henley was a major eye opener,” he added. His high school rowing success helped him realize that rowing in college was feasible and attainable along with encouragement from his coaches and teammates.

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Stuzyna was recruited to row at the University of Washington, one of the most renowned and successful rowing programs in the country. He showed up as a freshman in the Fall of 2007 and hit the ground running. During his time at UW, he was part of two National Championship winning Varsity 8+’s, the first of many the program has won under head coach Michael Callahan. His success continued as he made the US U23 teams in the summer of 2009 and 2010. His time with the Huskies of Washington helped pave the way for an Olympic bid. Struzyna was invited to Chula Vista, California to join the Senior National Team the moment he finished racing in the National Championship in 2011. He showed up and got in the mix immediately.  
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Though he did not make the 2012 Olympic team, he quickly learned what it took to compete at the next level and had his sights set on the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. “There is no straight path to make a National team or Olympic team,” says Struzyna. “Everyone takes turns, dips and hits bumps. Mine was no exception.” Eventually he was invited to the Olympic Selection Camp to try out for the 8+ and 4-, and secured a seat in the M8+ (2 seat that is!) to represent Team USA in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

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“Training, qualifying and competing in the Olympics was a full time job,” Struzyna admitted. “The rest of my life was on hold or revolved around making that boat.” His full Olympic experience, from training to competing, was something Struzyna admitted he couldn’t quite distill fully in one story. The training was intense with high highs and low lows. “You can go from training at a world record pace one day to barely qualifying the next,” he explained. “I can say I wouldn't trade that experience for anything, and the skills I refined, obstacles I overcame, and the effort I put forth made me into the person I am today.”

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An opportunity to represent his country and compete at the highest level of athletic achievement wasn’t the only significant way rowing altered Struzyna’s life. While rowing at California Rowing Club in Oakland, CA, Struzyna met Kristin Hedstrom. Kristin made the 2012 Olympic Games in London rowing in the Lightweight Women’s 2X. “At first our relationship was friendly and professional— rowing was our job at that time,” Struzyna explained. “Slowly, then quickly, we became closer and started dating. We supported each other in our respective rowing goals which translated nicely to our professional careers post rowing.” In 2018, Struzyna proposed on a beach in Thailand, the couple's first non rowing trip in their adult lives. In 2019, the two were married and celebrated 7 years of marriage this July.

Following his rowing career, Struzyna decided to pursue a career in real estate. He got his license shortly after returning from the 2016 Olympic Games. “From my time at SRA all the way to the Olympic stage, I learned that you get out what you put in,” says Struzyna. “I took that same mindset, plus being coachable and a fast learner to learn this new game of real estate.” By 2021, business had grown significantly and Kristin joined Struzyna in real estate sales and the two were quite the dynamic duo. Just a year later, in 2022, Struzyna was the top salesperson on his team and the top buyers agent in his town of Alameda, CA. Stuzyna and his wife live a very entrepreneurial life and have started other businesses while managing a real estate portfolio such as Kristin’s thriving side hustle helping high school rowers get recruited to row in college. The pair show no signs of slowing down any time soon! 

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Rowing was the catalyst for so much in Struzyna’s life. “Sammamish is where it all began for me,” he said. “Without the influence of this boathouse and community I may never have gone to the University of Washington or rowed for Team USA.” With this gratitude for SRA in mind, Struzyna decided he wanted to give back to the organization that influenced his life so much. After moving back to the PNW in October of 2025, Struzyna has committed to volunteering with the junior team this fall, but has been floating other ideas with SRA’s Executive Director, Sarah Low, on how to best put his skills to use. “I want to help the next generation of both junior and masters rowers find their potential in the sport and achieve the goals they have for themselves,” Struzyna added.

Summer is usually when SRA provides Learn to Row and Row for a Day programs so people can try out the sport just like Struzyna and his family did back in 2004. To those thinking about giving rowing a try— Struzyna says to go for it. “Seattle and the greater PNW is a rowing town,” he commented. “Until you get in a boat, you won't get it. Once you get on the water and it clicks, you will never look back!” When summer programs wrap up, SRA has private lessons available or juniors can join the fall September and November Try Rowing sessions. 

It’s hard to find a rower whose life hasn’t been transformed by the sport. Whether it’s making life long friendships, rowing on historic courses, competing at the highest level, earning a college scholarship, or forming positive fitness and lifestyle habits— there’s a profound impact for just about everyone. At SRA, we hope to be by your side in your rowing journey. We were for Struzyna who said, “SRA is where it all started! This is where I took my first strokes, learned what rowing could be. I bleed purple and gold; I've worn the red, white and blue; But my heart belongs in that little boathouse down by the Sammamish slough.”

Hans Strużyna (right) and Rob Munn (left). Munn is a fellow SRA Junior Program alum and rowed in the 2016 Olympic boat with Struzyna.

Our team is excited to welcome Struzyna back to our boathouse in his volunteer role. We also look forward to following more of his rowing endeavors as he returns to the sport after nearly a decade away. Struzyna is now rowing with a group of (mostly) UW alumni and they are currently training to take a boat to the 2026 Head of the Charles regatta— a regatta our masters squads routinely compete in.

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We can’t thank Struzyna enough for his commitment to our community and his friendship over the years. We are immensely proud of all he has accomplished and look forward to what is next for him. Whether your rowing journey takes you to the Olympics or deepens your passion for the sport— we hope that SRA will be part of your story.