The Rowing World of Thor Nilsen

Thor Nilsen
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“A lot of people say I’m wonderful. Some say I’m a pain in the arse.” Thor Nilsen is not one to mince his words. The 2003 recipient of FISA’s distinguished service to rowing medal has gone to the man who epitomises the international nature of the sport. The man whose name will some day be synonymous with the sport itself. This man not only doesn’t mince his words, he refuses to. All you have to do is pick which language.

Nilsen’s rowing involvement spans more than half a decade going back to the end of World War Two when as a 14-year-old he rowed his first race for Baerum Rowing Club near Oslo in Norway. The Second World War denied Norway of any organised sport and Nilsen was part of the development of a club that worked not only with the bare minimum of equipment, but also against a current that insisted rowing was not a good sport for long winters of Norway.

“That irritated me,” says Nilsen. “I couldn’t accept that we could not do rowing.” Nilsen, who had already begun coaching in his early 20’s while still rowing, decided to turn the situation around. Winter training was turned into an advantage with indoor rowing tanks, cross country skiing and an early model of rowing machine giving rowers a break from the water.

Coaching, at this stage, was solely a volunteer pursuit so the energetic Nilsen earned his living working in business and marketing. He also studied exercise physiology and administered Norway’s physiology institute. “I worked every day of the week,” says Nilsen.

Over the years Nilsen’s style has changed. “As a young coach I wanted to be in the drivers seat. I would hang around all of the time and push athletes – make them suffer. Now I’m more interested in developing athletes as human beings,” says Nilsen. “I give them responsibility for their own development and now I encourage the need for intellectual stimuli. I want to develop the whole person.”

Nilsen has witnessed numerous changes in the sport. The biggest one, he says, is the time commitment. “We used to have to do it on our own money and time. Now top rowers are training full time and coaches are professional.”

Nilsen also points to the greater universality of rowing. When Nilsen first started only 20 nations were members of FISA. Now, with 115 member nations, rowing is becoming more of an international sport. 

Nilsen’s coaching knowledge did not stop at the Norwegian border. He insists on coaching athletes not countries. Officially he counts the number of nations that he is involved with as seven. Unofficially it is much more extensive with the Nilsen influence felt in most South American nations, chunks of Europe, countries in the former USSR and Asia. “I don’t look at people as a nationality,” says Nilsen.

Nilsen believes that if there are going to be any changes to the sport they will not be happening soon. However, he does predict that maybe 20 to 25 years from now rowing will transition to a shorter distance as a compliment to television coverage. Nilsen also believes that world records will continue to be broken as athlete identity programmes improve, more time is dedicated to training, an advancement in analysis techniques and more resources.

Now 71 year old, Nilsen’s energy for the sport is insurmountable and he shows little sign of slowing down. “Working with young people keeps my mind young,” says Nilsen. “I will continue as long as I can feel useful.”

The Nilsen List:
– FISA’s development director
– Honorary chairman of the competitive rowing commission
– Served on FISA’s council and executive committee
– President of the Swedish Rowing Federation, 1994 – 1997
– Developed national training centres in several countries
– National rowing coach for Norway and Sweden
– Technical director and head coach for Spain and Italy
– Coaching results include more than 30 World Championship gold medals and eight Olympic gold medals.