3 mins
Ollie Parish
Dual nationality
GBR/CAN
Height
186cm
School/high School/secondary school
St. Paul’s School
Club
CUBC
Undergrad/Graduate
Undergraduate
Undergraduate Course
Engineering
Cambridge or Oxford College
Peterhouse
Why are you studying your course?
I like Maths and Physics and Cambridge has a great engineering department.
What is the most interesting part of your course?
Information Engineering
Year you first started rowing
2014
First rowing club
St Paul’s School Boat Club
Why/how did you get into rowing?
My father rowed at Cambridge and at the Olympics, so it’s always been a goal of mine to try it.
Name of first rowing coach
Doug Perrin
How do you balance rowing and academic life?
I like the structure of the rowing; it helps to plan out the day as much as possible.
Who would be your dream team eight to row with from everyone in the history of rowing?
The 2000 GB men’s eight would have been fun, the lottery funding coming into the sport for the first time after Atlanta 1996 started an era of GBR rowing dominance with the win in the 4-and 8+ at Sydney.
Who is your rowing idol?
Matthew Parish
What is your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far?
Winning the Boat Race last year at Ely. I also won Henley for St Paul’s in 2018 and junior worlds gold and silver (8+ 2018, 4-2019).
Have you raced in the Boat Race before? If yes, when?
Last year 2021, at Ely. I was also selected for the 2020 Goldie boat which didn’t get to race.
Have you ever been at school/university/on a team with anyone at ‘the other place’?
I’ve overlapped with a few of those guys at school and junior trials.
Your favourite race so far?
The Boat Race last year. We weren’t expecting to be as far up after 750m as we were. From there we could control the race and close it out comfortably.
What is the best place you have ever rowed?
The month lead into the Boat Race last year was a very good experience. Under Rob’s excellent guidance, we made use of every session and really thrived in the underdog pressure.
Where would be your dream place to row?
GB Olympic squad
Obviously, it is long hours and hard work‚ what inspires you to keep rowing?
I love it. Almost every day I look forward to training with the rest of this team. The squad atmosphere and culture is fantastic.
What do you feel is your greatest achievement through rowing, be it accolades or something more personal?
Being selected as the 6 seat of last year’s Blue Boat was a big privilege I value very highly.
What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?
Capsizing at junior pairs trials 2018, my pairs partner left his gate undone.
What is your favourite sports quote?
“He hit a home run and didn’t even realise it.”
How would you describe the sport to a non-rower?
Faster version of kayaking.
What is your favourite movie about sports? Why?
Moneyball, watched it the week before the race last year.
How does being an athlete make you a better person?
It has taught me invaluable lessons about team motivation, effective communication, and leadership.
Why do you think someone outside of the sport can relate to your career as an athlete?
As with anything, you can have many good days and many bad days. The key is in getting the most out of every session.
What are your strengths, as a person and as an athlete?
I’m more of a technical athlete than brute power so my strengths lie on the water. I try to get as much out of the people around me as possible.
What do your friends think of your athletic success? My friends outside of rowing are respectful of the time spent rowing. I try to make up for out time as much as possible in the off-season.
Do you think you can win the Boat Race? Why?
I think we have a superior set up to Oxford. Better coaches, better team culture and better rowers. I’m looking forward to racing.