Oli Bridge

Club CUBC Men

Year of Birth 2001

Hometown London

Nationality British

College St Catharine’s

Undergrad/Graduate Undergraduate

Year 2nd

What are you studying? BA Natural Sciences

What is the most interesting part of your course? Do you have any professional or academic plans after? I have specialised in chemistry for my second year, as it’s the module I enjoyed the most in my first year. With regards to future plans, I haven’t got a strong idea of what I want to do, so I am just making sure I pursue what I enjoy for the time being.

Future ambitions? I’m not entirely sure what I want to do multiple years down the line, but I am hoping to study theoretical chemistry next year.

How do you balance rowing and academic life? I have found it very doable to balance rowing and work, as long as you are efficient with time management and plan the assignments you have coming up. To succeed in the team you have to be a very driven individual, so the skills you learn from training are definitely transferrable to getting your academics done.

When did you start rowing, and why? I started rowing in 2014; I tried it out in the summer because I thought it looked fun. I wasn’t particularly good at other sports so decided to commit to rowing and see what happened. Fortunately I really enjoyed it and haven’t looked back since.

What was your first club? Hampton School Boat Club.

What is your favourite part of rowing for Cambridge? The most enjoyable aspect of rowing in the team is getting to train with a great bunch of guys every day. Our team culture is so strong and we all have each other’s backs, which makes training really fun. With the pace of the Boat Race program we all get to know each other really quickly and develop a cohesive squad early on, which is why the team is so strong. The coaching staff are also top notch and the whole team is constantly driving improvement from each other.

What’s your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far? I rowed at school for five years. We never won any particularly prestigious events, but I’d say my highlight at school was racing at Henley Royal Regatta. It’s my favourite week of the year, and the racing experience is unlike any other event I’ve been to before. The atmosphere is electric.

Have you raced in the Boat Race before? No.

Your favourite race so far? Trial IVs 2019. We had two coxed fours race on the day of Trial VIIIs last year; it was a really exciting race and it was nice to come away with the win.

Do you have any race day habits or superstitions? Not particularly, just getting the basics right (rest, recovery etc.)

Your sporting idol? My sporting idol is Anthony Joshua. I am always in awe of the persistence and training mentality of successful boxers, as they train every day to try to execute a perfect single performance in the ring.

If you could have any sportsperson in your crew, who would it be? Someone hard as nails, like David Goggins. I feel like someone like him would be invaluable in the middle of the race where it gets tough.

Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing? I can solve a Rubik’s cube in under 20 seconds…

How do you motivate yourself and your teammates, especially with Covid restrictions? Often I turn to music to motivate myself in tough sessions (on land). My hype song of choice is ‘Drunken Sailor Dirty Bass Remix’ by Glamrock Brothers. Also, just training with teammates and putting in the work together is a big motivator for me. I really enjoy the tough sessions where all the guys are sweating it out together and we are all encouraging each other.