1.5 interviews 1

Evangeline Gowan conducted interviews on female friendships in rowing. Aaron, a rower and coxswain, believes strong friendships are important for team unity and performance. Katie, a rower, found it easy to make friends in rowing and believes the support helps during tough times. Alexandra, also a rower, was drawn to the team ethos at UL and values the understanding and support of her rowing friends. She experienced the negative impact of a falling out within the team but still believes the benefits of strong friendships outweigh the risks. Hello, I'm Evangeline Gowan. I'm in first year studying design at Goldsmiths University in London, and this is a full unedited version of interviews that I have conducted for my 1.5 project on female friendships in rowing. First up, we have Aaron. Hi, Aaron. Hello. Hello. My name is Aaron Bogart. I'm in class four. I'm teaching in a full, multi-faceted classroom from Long Island, New York. Claim view 11803. Date of birth, April 28, 2005. Approximately 3.35 o'clock in the morning. Cool. And how do you identify yourself? I am currently a rower and coxswain for the University of London Boat Club in Chiswick, Townsville, W43CEU. And how long have you rowed for? I have rowed since October 29, 2017. Cool. Well, you mentioned that you were a cox for the University of London, and you're primarily working with the women's squad. That is true. Do you often see the friendships between women on the squad? Do I see friendships? Do you see friendships between women on the squad? Absolutely. I think there's an indistinguishable bond between some of the members of the women's rowing squad, but one that's very recognizable both inside and outside. And how do you think these relationships help individuals enroll? I think rowing is one of the few sports in which a large portion of the time that you are actively in season, your main competition is your teammates. And then, on very short notice and not very long preparation, you have to go right into coming together as one unit and facing outsiders. And I think that you need, as a member of the team, you need to have really strong friendships and connections outside of the boathouse so that when you are competing against one another and when you are competing against other people, that it never, A, becomes personal, and B, that you have the ability to switch on and come together as a unit. Do you think there's a direct benefit in teams who have good relationships that you see in their results? Like, in essence, do happy teams go faster? Or do you think that sometimes it doesn't actually matter and crews can just come together even though there might not be strong friendships? When you look at the crews that have historically been most successful, they are ones who have had strong bonds outside of the boathouse. When that comes to me, it's these guys. These guys rowed together for years and built such a strong chemistry. And while I do not know them personally, I would assume that given the time and experience spent together, they would have at least formed some kind of bond. And I think that united them and helped them grow so well together. And when you look at kind of more recent results for us, when you look at our most recent results in 2021, to my understanding, although I was not in the club at that time, two of the top four, they were quite a close group of labs. And I think that chemistry helped move the boat faster. Great. And one thing I'm going to say is... Obviously, rowing is inherently a very tough sport. And so, obviously, do you think it's good that... Do you think it's helpful when a friend is at the club to lean on when something goes wrong? Or when... Or do you think it's more detrimental, say, like, if something goes wrong, sit in the club, like, keep racing the line. You're not appointed. Your best friend's won. How would you think the friendship... Like, how do you think you can keep that friendship going? I think one of the challenges of rowing compared to what I'll refer to as traditional sports, so football and basketball and sports, in rowing, assuming everyone has the same baseline level of training, anyone and everything is a perfect fit. And so, that definitely can build a sense of instability within oneself and a lack of confidence. And I think that is one of the challenges for bonds with your teammates, friendships. That feeling that, oh, even though they... There's no guarantee that they aren't coming for you. I think that is one of the challenges. That is one of the benefits as well. Because it means that you can unequivocally lean on one another. Because each and every person is of the same position. Each and every person is going to go through the same thing, have the same equal opportunity. And that means that you really have to put your faith into the process collectively to reach the results of the training. And know that everyone's on the same level. It's a very bonding factor, I'd say. Both of them. Okay, that was Aaron. And now we have Katie. Good morning. Katie. Hello, my name is Katie. I'm 22 years old. I started rowing soon a bit years ago at my college, at uni. And I now row at the University of London Boat Club. Perfect. And how did you find... How did you find it when you first started? Did you think it was easy to make friends when you were a rower? Yeah, I think so. I think because you're in a group of people who all the same. Especially because I started at uni. It was like nobody knew anybody. And it was like the first day that we all came down to the boathouse. And no one knew anybody. And obviously, you need to know about drinks. Everyone got to know each other. Everyone became friends. And then I ended up... I still live with people that I met on that day. And do you think, because rowing is an inherently hard sport, that it really helps to have these strong connections and friendships with what you learn when it gets hard? Yeah, I think it definitely makes it easier. The hard bits are easier. Especially if you've got someone that's going through the same things as you, experiencing the same stuff. But if you are struggling, you can talk to someone and they'll understand. Whereas someone who doesn't row wouldn't understand what you're all about. Definitely. And I think that's probably the reason. Because everyone goes through the same thing. Why? So friendships can become really strong because you have such... Yeah, and I think also you spend so much time with them. You don't necessarily have time to see other friends as much, perhaps. Of course mates. Yeah, definitely. Or things like that. So you just spend more time with people. And then you end up living with them, like I did. Then it's just like, the only people you're ever around. And how did you find it, because of the UK and Chicago season, how did you find the team atmosphere when you first joined? I think I found it a little bit daunting at first. Especially because I'd trained in the same boat as in my college. And everyone would look at you in a bit of a negative way. And also my old friends would... I know, some of them could have been a little bit... They'd be like, why are you going there? And then coming here. But actually people were a lot nicer than I thought they'd be. And a lot more welcoming and friendly. Yeah. Is there anything else you have to say on this topic? No. Thank you. Okay, that was Katie. And next up we have Alexandra. Hi, I'm Alex, I'm 19. I'm in my first year at uni and in my first year at UL. I go to LSE and I rode at the Dolphin last month at school. And I've been doing this for a couple of years now. And I've been doing this for a couple of years now. And I've been doing this for a couple of years now. And I've been doing this for a couple of years now. And I've been doing this for a couple of years now. And I've been doing this for a couple of years now. And I've been doing this for a couple of years now. And I rode at the Dolphin last month at school. So obviously you heard about UL before you came. And was the team ethos something that drew you to the club? Yeah, 100%. What actually drew me to UL was an open day that they did at Dawney. And seeing the group warm up and how supportive everyone was of each other in the boat. The cause within the boat was such a change from where I currently was. And it made me realise how much of a team spirit that was. And how have you found that the friends that you've made since coming to UL have helped you through the year? I think all the friends I've made here have been really important. For keeping rowing here. Because you make friends at uni, you tell them you do rowing, but they don't really understand what you're doing. All the friends I made at LSE, you can't rely on them that much just because they don't really relate to what you do. People at UL, obviously, they're doing the same thing you do. They understand your struggles, worries, concerns. So they're really important. And you were recently off training for a while. Do you think that because you had close friends to help you, that it made the time slightly better? Yeah, 100%. I felt really supported throughout the whole process. I had people always asking me if I was OK, how I was doing. Kind of reassuring me that I wasn't going to get kicked out of the boat. Which was nice. And the coaches as well. Last year, I've heard that you had a falling out with someone in your boat. Yeah, quite a major one. Do you think that it made it harder to be in a team and row together? Yeah, I think the whole drama in my team last year kind of disrupted the dynamic for not only us two, but for everyone that we were around. So I do feel quite bad about that. For example, we had a big argument the night before our first round of Henley Royal. And I don't know about her, but all I could think about really going into that race was that argument. So that falling out definitely contributed towards us losing that race. But it's also possible to set aside all this stuff. And we had had issues before that, and we managed to set it aside. So you kind of touched on this, but would you say that that is kind of a risk of forming such strong friendships and relationships with people? Because if something did happen, it would hinder your performance. Or do you think that the benefit from those friendships is worth it? I definitely think the benefit from the friendships is 100% worth it. I definitely recommend forming as close ones as you can with people. Relationships are different. I would say forming a relationship with someone who is very likely to be in your crew is quite a risky idea. But also, I'd like to say I've matured since then, and probably would handle the situation very differently now. And I'm sure she would as well. Is there anything else you want to mention on this topic? Yeah, coming to UL, I was really nervous that I was going to be the worst one here, and that everyone was going to be really scary and intimidating. But I found that it was really easy to make friends, especially with the depressions. Everyone was kind of going through the same worries and anxieties. And, yeah, friends within rowing aren't the best friends. So, yeah. Thank you. You're welcome. That was Alex, Elle, and now we're going to listen to Mila. Hello. I'm Mila. I'd just like to introduce yourself, your name, age, if you want, where you started rowing. Sure. How long have you been rowing? I'm Mila. I am 20. I started rowing in October. Now, April. So, six months. Wow. And where do you row? At UL. So, obviously, you're new to rowing, just joining this year. And is there anything you noticed about the team atmosphere when you first joined? I mean, it was very intense. I've been in the sport and been in the sport before, but when I joined, the same week there was a 2K test for the main squad. So, seeing, even though it was done in waves, everybody stayed around and screamed absolute murder at each other. It was like, I don't know these people. They are yelling. Pretty intimidating. It was pretty intense, especially because you were kind of a separate squad inside UL. And did you find it easy to make friends when you first joined? Within the squad, yeah, 100%. Like, it took 0.5 seconds. And one sick day, I'm waking up all together, groggy as hell. And that was it, you know. So, do you think that since you're in the main squad, like, the socials that we partake in, like, obviously karaoke after we roll, like sausage fare. Do you think that they help the, like, bonds between people? Or do you think that, actually, the friendships would still be just as strong without the, sort of, socials? I think they wouldn't be, because being a part of the development squad until January, I kind of wasn't able to integrate within the training as early. Without the socials, I don't think there's ever a chance, and even with it, it's quite a challenge. Obviously, we do have separate training times still, but without socials, no. I think it'd just be like a work relationship. And has having good friends within the dev squad helped you push yourself harder to keep training? Oh yeah, yeah, 110%. Like, especially the girls who are over at Cox's now, they still do all the same training as us. Yeah. All the shifts and gigs. Yeah. And you're just like, yeah, it's fun, why not? You know, it's kind of chill. So you would say that it sort of helps you stay motivated, that everyone's in the same boat. Yeah, yeah. And many novices who joined the programme with you have been since then. And were the friends that you had in the development squad, like, a big reason for you having such a good time and staying? Yeah, most definitely. Since the massive cut off, the infamous cut day. Yeah. It's obviously been much harder to motivate myself, because we went from a dev squad of 12 down to three rowers. Yeah. So it, you know, makes a completely different dynamic. Yeah. So I think that's everything. Is there anything else you'd like to add? I don't know. I just feel like there's lots of cool people that you want to be friends with. Ah, well, thank you. That was Mila. And now we're going to hear Maddie. So just introduce yourself, like, name, age, if you want, when you started rowing. How old you were, where you row now. Okay. Old age? We'll just, yeah, if you want. Sorry, Maddie Posner. I'm 20 now. I have been rowing for, I think, seven years, almost seven years, I think. I first started rowing at, it's, like, weird. I first started rowing at Queen's Gate, at my school, and Selham Reach. I can't remember where I started. Cool. And where do you row now? Sorry, yeah, University of London, Vauxhall. Cool. And have you found that, like, friendships that you formed through rowing were stronger than other friendships that you formed elsewhere, or? Yeah, definitely. I think in, like, good sense and a bad sense, in a way. Yeah. Like, I mean, at the time, like, when I was up for the month, and, like, I actually started fishing for pigs, so, actually, I wanted to just spend all my time with my fellows on the Reach a lot, and that was actually quite unhealthy. And, yeah, I mean, some of them weren't, like, the best fish to fish with. Yeah. So, whereas, like, obviously, and through rowing, like, going through the Putney High, like, made, like, my best mates become rowing, then, obviously, they were my best mates. Cool. And do you think it's, like, through the shared, kind of, like, hardships that the sport provides that makes these friendships, like, so strong? Yeah. I think definitely, because we all kind of, it sounds super cringey, but, like, we all struggle together. Like, we all win together, we all lose together, we all do the same thing. Like, everyone's in the same boat. Yeah. But, like... No, exactly. Everyone is in the same boat, so I do feel like everyone kind of understands each other, and that just makes, like, bonds so much stronger. Yeah. And, um... What the hell? And would you say, like, even though you're not rowing with, like, say, your Putney friends or your, some of your old Fulham friends, that you still keep those connections and, like, still hold those friendships? Yeah. I think definitely more so now, now that I, especially with Fulham, now that I'm in a better place, and, like, out of, you know, that time, I can actually, like, have those more, like, healthy relationships with people who actually, you know, I was defensive and, you know, they worried a little bit about me. And then, yeah, obviously, if I mean, you know, it's because you row at school with them as well, like... Yeah, exactly. ...all the time. So, like, yeah, I think it's just to sort of obviously keep in touch with those people, and I'm happy that, like, I have them. Yeah. Um... And... Would you say that you can, like, count on your rowing friends? Like, if you were having a tough day, would you speak to them about it? Yeah. Yeah. A hundred percent. Cool. Um... Anything else to share on the topic? Thank you. Oh, actually, hang on. Oh, go on. Um, you coach at Pony High a bit, don't you? I do, yeah. And can you see the younger girls, like, forming these friendships and, like, becoming those... Yeah, definitely. I would say, like, obviously, the girls that I coach, they're sort of 15. Yeah. They're in their 10s now. And there are a good bunch of kids that, obviously, like, I think also their age sort of plays into it a lot. Yeah. But you can definitely tell, sort of, at school, like, I mean, and, you know, all the rowing kids, like, the rowing squad is kind of a little group at Pony. Yeah. And you can definitely, like, especially with this year, but I think, like, in the younger years, that's definitely more, like, apparent. But, I mean, I think they are all really good friends. I think also just, I think it's the age as well. Yeah. Like, I've seen that at KT, and, you know, they can sometimes be a bit itchy with one another. But, I mean, sometimes, you know, they come to rowing, and it kind of seems like, you know, just a half an hour, and then they're gone. But, yeah, no, I think, like, you can see that they are really, like, all the girls are sort of good mates, and it's nice to see, sort of, even after, like, leaving Pony, it just kind of continues like that. Thank you. Okay. That was Maddy, and now we're going to hear from Ife and Natalia. And just introduce yourselves, like, name, age, if you want. Hi. I'm Natalia. I'm 22. Well, there's 21. Hi. I'm Ife. I'm 19. And where did you start rowing? Where do you row now? I started at Bryanston when I was 14. I started at Kingston Namco when I was 15, and now we both row at UL in our second year of uni. Cool. Okay. And will you say that throughout rowing, you've, like, formed lots of really strong friendships through the sport? I'd say that's my strongest friendship. I've been... I'm not sure what I have to say. I've been made through rowing, like, made close friends through rowing. I've made close friends through rowing. I think at school, there were, like, two girls and nine guys, so I got used to specific types of persons. And I think coming to university and seeing the diversity of personalities in rowing was a bit of a shock, because I thought I knew what everyone was like. All the guys were, like, really nerdy, meaty, sweet. Whenever I came here, they were more masculine, I would say, but in, like, a flashy way. And it was nice having more women in the sport. I don't think my strongest friendships are from rowing, but my strong friendships have also come from the sport. Cool. And will you say that, like, when you came to UL last year, you found that, like, the women's squad was very, like, supportive of each other? Like, or was that not really the case last year? They pushed you in your PBs, I think. There'd be a lot of cheering. It took a lot of adjusting last year, and I'd say, as a fresher group, especially the three fresher women in there, we became closer for it. And then EJ and I have a bond. Our bond is... I think it's a product of the new environment we had entered. Yeah. Cool. And would you say it's very different this year? Yeah. Yeah. I think everyone's a lot more, like, willing and open to interacting with each other. Yeah. I think having a younger group, but so many people are new, forces you to be friends with everyone, or get to know everyone. Yeah. Whereas if you've been at this club, understandably, for four, five plus years, it makes sense to not necessarily care about interacting with 18 and 19-year-olds. Yeah. Why would you want to do that? Exactly. It's been really lovely having so many new people enter this year, especially in the women's squad. I think it's very supportive. I think I've loved meeting new people and kind of seeing each other succeed in the sport. And even when maybe things don't go to plan, or the way people saw the year going, they've kind of taken it in their stride, the other way. Cool. Do you have any other points on this? Nope. I think something I've learned from last year and going into this year, community is such a big part of this sport, and the best way to do that is to be happy and through the support, because you can't... If you succeed, you've got to do it by yourself. Yeah. Even if you're fat and single, there's still... You have... Yeah. You've still got a community that's supporting you on. And cheering you on. And cheering you on. And I think we all know, just as an example, sitting doing an Ugg by yourself is so much harder than literally only having one other person there. Yeah. And that goes to the whole sport thing. It's a very difficult sport to participate, and having people that are around you to support you and you supporting them is a great experience. And I think we have the advantage of you can take advice from people with experience, and it will be different forms of experience, whether it's nutrition, whether it's physio, whether it's... How do I... I'm struggling to sleep, what can I do? Or I'm struggling to eat, or I'm struggling to travel, I'm struggling to balance my work. Yeah. Whatever you may struggle with, there are people with experience on how to overcome it. And I think if you are struggling with something in general in life, the only way to overcome it is to lean on people and be able to trust, not necessarily everyone, but be able to trust that people will pick you up, because they will. You just have to... Yeah. Yeah. Cool. Thank you. No worries. I'm going to go hunt down my phone now. Okay, that was Aoife and Natalia. And now we're going to hear from Tashi.