ROMAN RÖÖÖSLI, 1993, Switzerland
World champion in the coxless double sculls at the World Rowing Championships 2023
Gold medal at the European Rowing Championships 2023 and gold medal at the 1st Rowing World Cup 2023.
What is the main trait of your character?
I am honest, positive, tenacious, a bit stubborn.
Has it influenced your sports career?
I think so, definitely. The sport has intensified these traits.
What virtue do you wish you had?
I believe that nobody is perfect and we can always improve. For example, I could take things easier.
Fun fact about you.
In the team they call me the great-grandfather...
Do you have a motto for life?
Fight for your dreams and never give up. When you work hard to achieve something, you can achieve almost anything.
Your second favorite sport.
Mountaineering.
Three athletes you admire.
Roger Federer, Beat Feuz, Dario Cologna.
What is the sporting milestone you remember most?
To be world champion in 2023 in the double sin, and the Boat Race victory in 2022.
How did you become a fan of your sport?
I tried a lot of sports when I was growing up, I played tennis, I went mountain climbing, I was on a track team and many more. But I was never really happy with the sport I was doing. One day a friend of mine took me to a rowing session and I instantly fell in love with the sport.
Who helped you the most to achieve your sports dream?
At first my family was very supportive. Then, when I met my girlfriend, she was and still is the most supportive.
Your greatest achievement?
World champion in the double-handed coxless in 2023.
And your worst failure?
In 2012 I was a four in a four and we crossed the five lanes and came in last.
What has the sport taught you for life?
Sport has taught me a lot of things and is the best school for life that I could have wished for. For example, rowing has taught me that with a lot of discipline and willpower I can achieve almost any goal. Moreover, sport has taught me that we are the forge of our own happiness.
How would you like fans to remember you?
As a good paddler who always fought respectfully and exuded a strong passion for the sport.
What is the biggest challenge in your sport?
I think it is extremely difficult to train and improve endurance and maximal strength at the same time. Both are important for rowing, but they compete with each other in training. Also, it's a big challenge to find your own limits and keep pushing them.
What is the most important aspect of any training?
Never lose sight of the goal and at the same time continue to enjoy the sport itself.
Do you have any rituals or hobbies before a competition?
No, none in particular.
What role has your upbringing played in your sports career?
Knowing that in the long run (after graduation) one cannot make a living from rowing, I made a conscious decision to study in addition to my rowing career. To do so, I had to organize my time very well and work efficiently. Now I am very happy to have finished my master's degree in Oxford and at the same time to have participated and won the oldest regatta in the world, the Boat Race.
And what role has sport played in your education?
An important one. Paddling made me realize how important water was to me and to mankind. I became more and more aware of what a privilege it was to be able to paddle on lakes from which water can be drunk practically without hesitation. There are many places in the world that still lack sufficient water and quality drinking water. This led me to enroll for and take a Master's degree in Water Science, Policy and Management at Oxford.
A tip for the younger ones.
Do what you love, and do it with passion. Believe in yourself, you can do more than you think.