Chris Sahs came from a rowing family, as his father captained the crew team at the University of Wisconsin. Sahs attended Brown University, graduating in 1993, after prepping at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Massachusetts. He competed three times at the World Junior Championships, winning a gold in the eight in 1987 and a bronze in the eight in 1988. He competed twice at the World Championships, in 1990 and 1991, both times in a four. At the 1990 Goodwill Games Sahs rowed the coxed four and won a silver medal in the eight.