Annie Anezakis

Nationality

AUS

Height

168cm

School/high school/secondary school

St Catherine’s School, Melbourne

Club

OUWBC

Undergraduate/Graduate

Graduate

Previous university

Princeton

Undergraduate course

Bachelor of Liberal Arts, Major in Molecular Biology

Graduate course

MSc in Pharmacology

Oxford college

Lady Margaret Hall

Why are you studying your course?

To further my research interests at the intersection of regenerative medicine and pharmacology. Specifically interested in small molecule stimulation of endogenous stem cells for therapeutic benefit.

What is the most interesting part of your course?

Delving into the research in the field of pharmacology that has led to the characterisation and discovery of new drugs and medicines that prevent and treat disease in humans.

Year you first started rowing

2012

First rowing club 

Mercantile Rowing Club

Why/how did you get into rowing?

First tried out rowing in PE classes at school and decided to continue because I loved the competitive environment as well as the strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork embedded in the sport.

Name of first rowing coach

John Saunders

Who is your rowing idol?

Kim Brennan

How do you balance rowing and academic life?

Having good time management skills is key -being efficient and productive with any spare time off the water and outside of the classroom. But also ensuring that I have some “me time” to switch the brain off and chill out.

Who would be your dream team eight to row with from everyone in the history of rowing?

Cox: James Rook, Rowers: Kim Brennan, Alice McNamara, Annabelle McIntyre, Jess Morrison, Alexander Hill, Josh Dunkley-Smith, Drew Ginn, Josh Booth.

Your favourite race so far?

Winning the lightweight 8+ at the Head Of The Charles, 2019.

What is your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far?

I rowed for St Catherine’s School, Mercantile Rowing Club and Princeton University lightweights over the last 10 years. Biggest achievement was winning the IRAs in the lightweight eight for Princeton this year. Member of the 2019 Eastern Sprints champions and silver medal winner at the IRAs. Won a silver medal in the 1V at Eastern Sprints, Princeton’s best finish since 2011. Led 1V to a bronze medal at the IRAs. Helped Princeton reclaim the Class of 1999 Cup against historic rival Harvard.

Have you ever been at school/university/on a team with anyone at ‘the other place’?

Seb Benzecry and Henry Evans at Princeton University.

What is the best place you have ever rowed?

Lake Carnegie, Princeton

Where would be your dream place to row?

Lake Bled

Obviously, there are long hours and hard work, what inspires you to keep rowing?

I just really enjoy training hard and working towards a common goal with my teammates. We train for so many months for quite a small number of races but reminding myself of that feeling of getting to the start line and being able to compete keeps me going.

What do you feel is your greatest achievement through rowing, be it accolades or something more personal?

Winning the lightweight 8+ at the IRAs this year off the back of a tricky season in the Covid-19 pandemic felt like a huge achievement for myself and my team, having persevered through lots of uncertainty and unique training circumstances.

What is your favourite sports quote?

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.

How would you describe the sport to a non-rower?

Painful and tiring but fun and exciting.

What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?

Getting a pair stuck in a rubbish trap on the Yarra River.

What is your favourite movie about sports?

Blades of Glory

How does being an athlete make you a better person?

Being an athlete has allowed me to develop resilience, humility and discipline, whilst also teaching me great teamwork and interpersonal skills.

Why do you think someone outside of the sport can relate to your career as an athlete?

The last few years of my rowing career have involved several different injuries resulting in a fair amount of uncertainty, which I think is a feeling that most people can relate to coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

What are your strengths, as a person and as an athlete?

I think I am a supportive teammate and bring good energy and enthusiasm to training.

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 think my friends are proud of me for what I have achieved in rowing and where I have allowed the sport to take me in life. I try to find time outside of rowing to hang out with them, so I don’t feel like I’m missing out on too much.

Do you think you can win the Boat Race? Why? 

Yes. I have a great deal of confidence in my teammates, coaches and the club, and I believe that our collective efforts will be rewarded with a win.