December 2020 : Caleb Shepherd

Twenty-seven-year-old kiwi coxswain Caleb Shepherd earned his first women’s World Championship gold after calling the New Zealand women’s eight to victory last year.  He tells us about the switch from coxing men and about how he keeps race fit.

World Rowing: How has 2020 been for you, especially compared with what you expected?
Caleb Shepherd: It has been a completely different year to what I was expecting, I had been planning my life post-Tokyo and basically had to have a full reset of that thinking.

WR: Where are you now and how has the corona virus affected your training this year?
CS: I am super stoked that we are able to continue to train on Lake Karapiro in New Zealand. We spent two months in a lockdown situation where all rowers had to train from home. It was a difficult situation but I was so impressed with the way in which our squad handled it. We definitely made the most of a very tough time, which I’m sure everyone around the world has been through similar or worse situations.

WR: How did you become a coxswain? And what keeps you coming back?
CS: I became a coxswain at high school after being encouraged to give it a go by some classmates and being somewhat head hunted by the rowing coach. I never thought it would turn into such a journey or international career, but what keeps me coming back is the feeling of helping rowers to improve and get the best out of themselves every day. Not to mention the rush of racing, there aren’t many things quite like it!

WR: How did you come to cox the New Zealand women’s eight crew?
CS: After a difficult 2018 season with the men’s eight, I was unfortunately dropped from the New Zealand summer squad. After a difficult few months away from the sport, I decided I had more to give and wanted to have another go. I had coxed the women a few times over the past six years and always enjoyed it, so when I made it back into the team I saw an opportunity for a fresh start and an exciting group to work with. Ultimately it was the call of the New Zealand selectors after a few months of swapping in between the men’s and women’s boats it seemed like the best fit.

WR: Are there differences to coxing a men’s crew?
CS: There are definitely many differences between the men’s and women’s eights! But at the end of the day I think it depends on the group of people you’re working with, regardless of gender, and the team I’m a part of now is really special. They are outstanding at listening, concentrating, working hard and they have such incredible resilience.

WR: What training do you do outside of the boat?
CS: I try to stay active and have tried a few different methods over the years, including cycling and gym training. My current training outside of the boat is running, partly to keep a handle on weight management but mostly because I enjoy it and it helps me stay in a good place mentally.

WR: What is your most memorable race and why?
CS: So many come to mind, but I think it has to be our final at the 2019 World Rowing Championships. That race was so much fun, we were truly tested and stuck to our plan which paid off in the end. I think it’s those moments when you’re truly tested, your technique, your trust in each other and having to overcome rival crews which are truly fast that means the most.

WR: As a sportsperson, has there been any upside to a very disruptive year?
CS: There is so much learning to be had from this year, and many positives. Our squad has been able to keep training hard and due to being locked down made some individual gains that may not have been possible from rowing on the water the whole time. We’ve had to navigate some challenges as a team which I think will ultimately make us stronger in the long run.

WR: What will the next few months look like for you and your crew?
CS: It’s summer in New Zealand so that means domestic racing and the selection process. We are completing long kilometres and training in a larger squad so it’s going to be a tough one for sure, but it provides us opportunities to showcase our elite athletes to the wider rowing community and test out some different strategies. I try to stay busy during this time by coaching and coxing, but I always have one eye on how the eight is shaping up.

WR: What do you do when you’re not rowing?
CS: I’m usually studying alongside rowing but I just completed my Masters in June so I’m waiting for the academic year to start again in January where I’ll take on a post-graduate diploma in teaching. Other than that I like to spend time with my partner, my family and ride my motorbike or surf as much as possible.

WR: Which sportsperson do you most admire?
CS: That’s a tricky question, I try not to idolise any athletes because I think they’re all just people at the end of the day. But Kerri (Gowler) and Grace (Prendergast) from our women’s pair genuinely inspire me every single day. They are two incredible athletes and human beings and to draw on their knowledge and standard of rowing is awesome.