An interview with Jillian Zieff
How did you start rowing? What has kept you in the sport?
I started rowing when I was 14 at Wayland Weston Crew. Partially because all my friends were doing it, and partially because my big sister did it (Ilana)...and I had to do everything she did when I was young. I stayed in the sport because I had never considered myself an athlete before that point, and for the first time I felt like I found something that I could excel at. I was recruited to row at Trinity College under then Coach Wesley Ng. Wesley laid the foundation for my future by teaching us about the importance of teamwork and trust in the process. Winning is a culmination of years. Not days, weeks, or months of work.
What is your most memorable race and why?
My most memorable race was winning NCAAs my senior year of college in 2014. We were in fifth place at the thousand meter mark when our coxswain called us up and you could feel all nine of us buy into starting the sprint...very early. We were able to walk through the entire field. I’ll never forget the chills I got when Gwen (our coxswain) made the call “bowball in gold.” This particular race felt like it was a true representation of the hard work our entire team (and more specifically the senior class) had put in for the last four years. The varsity was only fast because the 2v was fast. The 2v was fast only because the 3v was, etc.
How has Riverside helped you achieve your goals?
The community at Riverside is integral to my sense of purpose and drive. I am a part of something bigger than myself. It is a tremendous privilege to sit on the start line in blue and white stripes. I am not the culmination of my own efforts, but the entire club.
What is your favorite training to do outside of the boat?
I am an avid hiker. Being outside in nature gives me peace. When you reach the top of a mountain and look out it gives a person perspective on how small they truly are.
As an athlete, has there been any upside to a very disruptive year?
I had a slew of medical complications over the past year. When my health started to seriously deteriorate in January of 2020 I was in the throes of preparing for Olympic Trials and had no time to stop or understand the gravity of my situation. Since then, I have been able to take the time to experiment with different treatments and lifestyle changes that have allowed me to live a more comfortable and healthy life.
What will the next few weeks look like for you and your crew?
My doubles partner, Helen, and I are a fairly new combination. The process of getting to know each other on and off the water has been fulfilling and exciting. Over the next few weeks we are going to continue to try and build confidence and cohesion. Every day is an opportunity to get faster and improvements are still quite drastic. The way we row today is nothing like last week, and definitely not anything like the week before.
How do you prepare on race day?
As many of my teammates know, music is a big part of my preparation. I like to keep things light and fun to remind myself that is the way racing should be! My more recent habits include listening to ABBA and having a dance party in my kitchen before leaving the house.
What do you do to relax or have fun?
In addition to hiking I enjoy reading, painting, music, playing board games, and the ocean.
To find out more about how you can contribute to our athletes, please visit riversideboatclub/donate.
