Jackie Kiddle is the stroke representative for New Zealand's LW2x at the Paris Olympics, which start later this month.
1. What made you decide to join a rowing practice for the first time? Was there any memorable experience?
Actually, I started rowing because my dad encouraged me to. I remember bringing home a sports booklet in my first week of high school and my dad said, “I think you can do this,” so I thought, “Maybe I should give it a go.” I also remember waiting for the bus with a friend on the first day of trials, and we were made to do a one-minute ergometer test, and I wondered how I was going to do three minutes on the next test. Times have changed a bit since then.
2. During practices, races and other events, was there a point where you discovered how much fun rowing was or realized that maybe rowing wasn't so bad after all? When did you realize that you could make the national team?
I fell in love with the sport in my second to last year of high school (Year 12 in New Zealand). I competed in every event I could at the North Island Secondary Schools Championships and remember enjoying every minute. I'd race, eat pink bread and bananas on the boat trailer, then hop in another boat and race again. I won five medals, including a silver in the U17 Singles and was hooked.
3. What was your best and worst race/practice?
Beach Sprint Podium
Best race is a hard question. I've had a rollercoaster career, so there are a lot of best races for different reasons. Qualifying for the Olympics in the semi-finals of the World Championships last year was really the best for me. After not going to Tokyo, I didn't know if I would get the chance to go to the Olympics again and it felt like a big risk to try, so qualifying with Shannon was a dream moment for me. Then winning the World Championships in Coastal Mixed Doubles with my life partner Matt Dunham, who has also had a turbulent career, was really amazing. Sharing the top of the podium as a couple is not something many athletes get to experience in their lives.
The best training I've had was when I was in high school and I was on a single boat in Wellington Harbour. A killer whale swam under the boat and stared at me, I think he was trying to see if I was a seal. Luckily for me, he decided I wasn't a seal and swam away, but it was an amazing experience.
The most terrifying training experience for me was last year in Italy when Shannon and I received no warning of an approaching thunderstorm. A branch of lightning struck the lake in front of us and I can still picture its vibrant purple color and the fish leaping afterwards. It was, without a doubt, the most adrenaline rush I've ever experienced.
4. What is the best thing you have done in sports/something that no one knows about?
The funny thing is, my thumbs stay on the end of the oar during the race. It's so funny, but in the photo I took as I was starting out, I was standing upright with my thumbs on the end, but on the second stroke my thumbs come off. That must be how I feather row. That's what I do all the time. I always find it funny when I look at the photo, because it's like the oar has a mind of its own.
5. What advice would you give to young rowers?
Using sunscreen is the easiest way to improve your performance and recovery. Sunburn can have a huge impact on your performance, but avoiding it is easy. Just dab a little on your skin. Check! Done! That's my secret to improving recovery.
home town: Wellington, New Zealand
Club Affiliation: Star Boating Club
date of birth: July 16, 1994
Undergraduate education: University of Waikato, 2021
National Team: 9 – Under 23, 2014-16, Senior, 2017-19, 2022-23, Olympic, 2024
Kiddle and Cox race in Lucerne (thumbs up)
