Jenna Armstrong

Nationality

USA

Height

1.78m

School/High School

Hanover Park High School

Club

CUBC

Undergraduate/Graduate

Graduate

Previous University

Bates College (undergraduate); Duke University (graduate medicine)

Undergraduate course

Biological Chemistry and Mathematics

Graduate course 

Physiology

What is your Cambridge College?

Jesus College

Why are you studying your course?

As a medical student, I was fascinated by how dysfunction in physiologic processes caused the disease pathology that I saw in my patients. I was particularly interested in metabolism and ways in which alterations in oxygen supply change the metabolic response. I chose to do a PhD in Physiology to further explore this topic and develop the skills needed to bring ground-breaking scientific research from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside.

Year you first started rowing?

2011

First rowing club?

Bates College

Why/How did you get into rowing?

I was an alpine skier through high school. After a few knee injuries, I was unable to compete in alpine skiing anymore. In my first university class ever, a member of the Bates College

rowing team invited me to give rowing a try. The rest is history.

Name of first rowing coach?

Peter Steenstra

How do you balance rowing and academic life?

Lots of organisation and a giant backpack. When I leave my house at 5:45am I make sure that I have all the clothes/food/work that I need for the day so I can go straight from the morning session to the lab, and to the afternoon session without having to stop.

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

Wow, that is almost too big a question for me to answer. I only get to choose eight?

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

I learned to row at Bates College in 2011. I have four appearances at the Div III NCAA national championships, with one third place finish (2014), two second place finishes (2013 and 2012) and one first place finish (2015). I was awarded First-team All-America in 2015. I also won the Collegiate Eights at the Head of the Charles in 2014. My biggest rowing achievement so far was winning the Div III NCAA national championships in 2015.

Have you raced in the Boat Race before? If yes, when?

Cambridge reserve (Blondie) in 2022.

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

No

Your favourite race so far?

Our Blondie race in 2022.

What is the best place you have ever rowed?

The Androscoggin River in Maine in autumn. By far the most beautiful place in the world.

Where would be your dream place to row?

Anywhere warm and sunny.

Obviously, it’s long hours and hard work – what inspires you to keep rowing?

I left the sport entirely for five years (2015-2020) while I pursued my medical degree in the US. I now realise how much better my life is with rowing than without it. Even with the early, cold, rainy mornings, I remind myself how lucky I am to return to this amazing sport, and I wouldn’t trade this for anything else. Rowing at Cambridge is a huge privilege and I love every minute of it.

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

Forget about the awards for a moment. Forget about the trophies and the titles. It is the personal growth and development over my four years rowing at Bates College that is my biggest achievement. I have become a better athlete, teammate, and friend during that experience. The work ethic I have developed at Bates and the friendships that I have made are truly the greatest thing I have achieved in my life.

What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?

I have capsized small boats more times than I would like to admit. It is usually accompanied by a lot of screaming and it has been caught on camera a few times. Please don’t ask the Jesus College boatman for the photos he has proudly displayed on the “Wall of Shame”. There are many….

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

It is just like exercising on the rowing machine, except it usually happens really early in the morning (often before sunrise), on a slightly more unstable platform (the boat), outside with the elements (e.g. rain, cold, wind), with some of the most inspiring individuals on campus.

What is your favourite sports quote?

I am not sure I have a good answer for this one...

What is your favourite movie about sports? Why?

With this schedule, who has time to sit down and watch a movie?

How does being an athlete make you a better person?

This sport has taught me how to be a better teammate, a better friend, and a better person. I have learned to communicate more effectively, support others, ask for help when I need it, and work with others to achieve our common goals. It is about the people in this sport, the relationships we build, and the time that we spend together.

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

Whether it is athletic, academic, career, hobbies, family, or something else, we are all pursuing something. That is just human nature. I think everybody can relate to the idea of putting your time, effort, and thoughts towards achieving something that is important to you.

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

Enthusiasm mixed with a whole lot of energy.

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 am lucky that I have incredibly supportive friends and family who are with me through this journey. They understand the importance of rowing in my life, and they never pressure me to sacrifice rowing/sleep for social events. I make every effort to attend social events and activities with my friends, even if I need to leave early to accommodate my 8:30pm bedtime.