You have chosen to become the head of Okeanos after four years of rowing. Do you miss competing? “I don’t. Most student rowers start out of the blue, without any prior rowing experience. It’s exhausting: you train a lot of hours a week. After four years, I was tired. Last year when I quit, it rained for six months straight – that helped. I was nervous before every race. I wasn’t the best rower, but I put so much pressure on myself. Now I can just chill and watch others perform. That feels way better than racing ever did.”
Do others at Okeanos feel that pressure too? “Yes, for sure. Some more than others. In your first year, you already train ten hours a week. At a high level it becomes twenty. You put in so much time, you want results. It sounds cheesy, but there can only be one winner. Some thrive on that pressure, others enjoy it less.”
R.S.V.U. ‘Okeanos’
The rowing association was founded in 1957 by two student associations from VU: Jumbo and Agora. The club has around 500 members. Okeanos rowers have competed in every Olympic Games since 1980, with two female members winning gold last summer in Paris. The head coach of the Dutch national rowing team is also an ‘Okeanite’.
Does being in a team add pressure? “Could be. In boats with two, four or eight rowers, if one person’s technique is off, the whole boat slows down. You really depend on each other. But when it does go well, that’s such a special feeling. You did it together, and everyone gave everything.”
Do teammates blame each other for underperforming? “That happens mostly with freshmen. As you get older, you realise blaming won’t help. You have to trust that your teammates are giving it their all – that’s the best you can do.”
How do you deal with all that pressure? “We have sports psychologists at the club, and competitive rowers can meet with them individually. It’s paid for by the club. There’s also a professional coach you can talk to. It’s very normal. Nobody sees it as a sign of weakness.”
Do members of Okeanos use the top sportsmen arrangement from VU? “We have three members that do, but it is hard to get selected for. VU will contact The National Sporting Association and ask them: ‘Hey, this guy is training this number of hours. Is he an elite athlete in your eyes?’ It’s much easier to get with other sports.”
Are you, as chair, involved in negotiations? “Not really, we actually don’t have a lot of contact with VU. Not as much as I would want to, considering VU founded us 68 years ago, and we carry her name.”
There’s a well-known gap between recreational and competitive members. Is that still an issue? “Yes, and every rowing club tries to bridge it. Competitive rowers train hard, while others focus more on the partying. We try to connect the groups: invite the partygoers to races, and get the rowers to join Thursday drinks. A bit of mutual respect goes a long way. At the end of the day, we’re all Okeanites – drinking beer together, alcohol-free or not, and supporting from the docks. Not to mention: partying generates profit for the club. Boats are super expensive – other members are basically drinking for your boat.”
Jannes van der Geest (24)
2024 – now Chairman of the board of R.S.V.U. ‘Okeanos’ 2024/2025
2019 – now Bachelor Earth Sciences
2020 – 2023 Rowed competitively on a national level
2022 – 2023 Bachelor Movement Sciences