CASE STUDY // John Pritchard
John Pritchard is a world class oarsman and two time Olympian who won a silver medal at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. He rowed in The Boat Race three times for Cambridge against Oxford.
I was part of the sport science team who helped John and his team prepare for the challenge of rowing the Mississippi in 2014.
"It was in early 2013 that I finally realised the scale of the challenge I had undertaken. In 2014, I was going to attempt to row the length on the Mississippi, some 3,700 kilometres, in a wooden skiff of Victorian design. Apart from the obvious physical challenge, I was aware that the project – the objective of which was to raise more than $1,000,000 for the charity Right to Play – would present very significant psychological challenges and if I were to succeed, I would require some professional support. It was then I was (happily!) introduced to Juliette Lloyd.
My career as a competitive rower had been reasonably successful, but it had been exclusively focused on going from A to B as quickly as possible, preferably ahead of the rest of the world. The Mississippi was different – I had to develop the ability to suffer, all day, every day for some three months. In addition, I had the daily burden of raising funds, conducting radio, news and TV interviews, as well as giving speeches. Juliette prepared me to cope with these elements by compartmentalising them and allowing me to approach each individually, instead of succumbing to the sometimes overwhelming feelings of pressure and inadequacy. Her input was a fundamental element in the success of the project. The outcome? I completed the mission and raised $2.54 million."
The Great River Rowed: The Mississippi Million. John Pritchard.
