20 Dec 2017
Caileigh Filmer (CAN)
Rising Star – December 2017
At age 21, Canada’s Caileigh Filmer is a multi- medallist at the international junior and under-23 level. In 2016 she finished 5th at the Olympic Games in the women’s eight and in 2014 she also won bronze in the junior women’s pair at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.
A sweep rower, she has competed internationally in the pair, the four and the eight and this year she reached her most successful result so far – World Championship gold in the under-23 women’s eight.
World Rowing has identified her as a rising star in rowing and looks forward to tracking her progress in the near future.
I discovered rowing… when I left the swimming at the age of 13. After competing on the youth national team, my mother encouraged me to try a new sport. I signed up for a Learn to Row summer camp where I initially disliked the sport because I found it challenging to master basic technique.
The qualities I most appreciate in my teammates are… trusting, fearless and confident.
What keeps me rowing is… the endless challenges and new boundaries you are able to try to surpass. The satisfaction gained from accomplishing something you once never thought possible is addicting.
My goal in rowing is…. to help Canada win a gold medal in Tokyo.
My most memorable race so far… was winning gold at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships this past summer in Plovdiv. After a tough year with injuries, it was incredible to win my first gold medal and set a new U23 World Best Time.
My most difficult race so far… was in the heat of the four at the 2013 World Rowing Junior Championships because it was my first race ever at a world championship and I forgot to breathe, making it very difficult to get through the last 500m.
I study… Bachelor of Science in Combined Earth and Ocean Sciences and Physical Geography at the University of Victoria.
What motivates me most is… when someone tells me I can’t do something or it is impossible because I am too short or too young.
My non-rowing friends think… the amount I exercise is disgusting. That what I do is amazing and normal people can’t do it.
When I am not rowing… I spend most of my day on the university campus in lecture, lab, or the library and I always take a lunch break to hang out with my friends.
Outside of rowing… I enjoy doing anything that helps make me happy and relaxed, including going on long runs, experimenting with new food recipes, and going to hot yoga.
On the erg, my best score so far is… 6:44.0
My biggest strength is… my enjoyment of long aerobic training sessions and my ability to be positive.
A weakness I would prefer not having is… my vulnerability to a good scoop of gelato.
In my fridge, you will always find… cottage cheese and blueberries.
If I could change one thing about the world it would be… creating teleportation to get to places quicker.
If I could have dinner with any three people in the world… Helen Glover, Heather Stanning and Joannie Rochette. Helen and Heather were incredible role models to me in my early years of rowing and Joannie was an inspiration through her perseverance at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
My motto is… make the impossible possible and always smile.