2 mins
Roman Röösli
Nationality
SUI
Height
191cm
School/high school/secondary school
Lucerne Alpenquai
Club
OUBC
Undergraduate/graduate
Graduate
Previous university
University Bern
Undergraduate course
MSc Business Administration & Geography
Graduate course
MSc in Water Science, Policy & Management
Oxford college
St. Peter’s
Why are you studying your course?
Water is life
What is the most interesting part of your course?
Water science
Year you first started rowing
2007
First rowing club
Seeclub Sempach
Why/how did you get into rowing?
By chance, a friend invited me to a training session.
Name of first rowing coach
Yanik Bucher
Who is your rowing idol?
Sinkovic Brothers
How do you balance rowing and academic life?
Work hard
Who would be your dream team eight to row with from everyone in the history of rowing?
Alex Hill, Matthew Pinsent, Steve Redgrave, Alex Gregory, Hamish Bond, Eric Murray and Angus Widdicombe
What is your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far?
2020 Tokyo Olympics M2x 5th place, 2020 European championships silver medallist M2x, 2019 world cup series winner M2x; 2019 European championships silver medallist M2x, 2018 world championships silver medallist M2x; 2018 European championships bronze medallist M1x, 2017 European championships bronze medallist M2x, 2016 Rio Olympics M4x 7th place, 2014 U23 world championships gold medallist BM4x, 2013 U23 world championships gold medallist BM4x.
Your favourite race so far?
World champs -Plovdiv 2018
Obviously, there are long hours and hard work, what inspires you to keep rowing?
Mix of hard work, technique, boat feeling, friendships, nature, rowing family.
What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?
Beaten by everyone in Essen (GER).
What is your favourite movie about sports? Why?
Rocky
What do you feel is your greatest achievement through rowing, be it accolades or something more personal?
Rowing has made me the person I am today. That makes me happy.
What is your favourite sports quote?
Work hard, it’s worth it.
How would you describe the sport to a non-rower?
Fascinating sport that is much more than it appears to be at first glance from the outside.
How does being an athlete make you a better person?
Respect, perseverance, discipline, friendship, dealing with victory and defeat
Why do you think someone outside of the sport can relate to your career as an athlete?
Because it shows that diligence pays off.
What are your strengths, as a person and as an athlete?
Patience, openness, adaptability, endurance, boat feeling, technique.
What do your friends think of your athletic success? How do you handle missing out on activities with friends because of your athletic schedule?
I don’t feel bad. I stand behind what I do. And I do it with passion.
Do you think you can win the Boat Race? Why?
Yes, we are the better team.
Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing?
Mountaineering, ski tours, crosscountry skiing, meeting friends, carpentry, gardening.
Tell us one surprising thing about yourself.
I like Goa-Trance.