2 mins
Jean-Philippe Dufour
Nationality
Swiss/Canadian
Height
1.92m
Club
OUBC
Undergraduate/Graduate
Graduate
Previous University
University of Zurich
Undergraduate course
Medicine
Graduate course
DPhil Neuroscience
What is your Oxford College?
Lincoln
Why are you studying your course?
Because neuroscience is interesting and challenging.
What is the most interesting part of your course?
Solving all the problems that come up when doing research by teaching yourself new skills.
Year you first started rowing?
2016
First rowing club
Belvoir Ruderclub
Why/How did you get into rowing?
Because I wanted a new physical challenge and I thought I would be decent at it considering I’m quite tall.
Name of first rowing coach?
Camille Codoni
Who is your rowing idol?
Roman Röösli
How do you balance rowing and academic life?
By trying to not waste time.
Who would be your dream team eight to row with from everyone in the history of rowing?
Roman Röösli, me, the rest doesn’t matter.
What’s your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far?
I don’t have a biggest achievement yet as I haven’t won the Boat Race.
Have you raced in the Boat Race before? If yes, when?
2021, 2020 was cancelled.
Have you ever been at school/ university/on a team with anyone at ‘the other place’?
No
Your favourite race so far?
I don’t have a favourite race as I haven’t won the Boat Race yet.
What is the best place you have ever rowed?
Wallingford
Obviously, it’s long hours and hard work – what inspires you to keep rowing?
Winning the Boat Race and then stopping rowing.
What do you feel is your greatest achievement through rowing, be it accolades or something more?
I don’t feel I have achieved much through rowing yet as I haven’t won the Boat Race.
What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?
Losing the 2021 Boat Race was exceptionally pathetic.
What is your favourite sports quote?
“It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.”
How would you describe the sport to a non-rower?
Repetitive
Why do you think someone outside of the sport can relate to your career as an athlete so far?
Because it’s about working hard as a team towards a common goal and encouraging each other.
What are your strengths, as a person and as an athlete?
I can push myself very hard.
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 care about missing out on social activities as long as I end up winning the Boat Race.
Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing?
Music and reading.