October 2023: Janneke van der Meulen

Having been a familiar face on the traditional flat-water rowing scene for over a decade, Janneke van der Meulen has made a very successful transition to coastal rowing and is now a familiar face on the beach in this growing area of our sport.

Over the last few weeks alone, van der Meulen has won silver at the European Rowing Beach Sprint Championships, gold at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals and two golds at the World Rowing Coastal Championships. She is our October 2023 Rower of the Month.

We caught up with van der Meulen after the most recent events in Barletta to find out how she’s enjoying this new discipline of rowing.

You just won the first-ever World Rowing Beach Sprint gold medal for the Netherlands. What did this win mean to you?

In my view, success is nothing more than aligning your behavior with what you truly desire. I achieved that, and I’m pleased. It’s fulfilling. Lose yourself in the work/your rowing task, let the results speak for themselves.

What prompted the switch from Classic rowing to Coastal?

My brother-in-law (Julien Bahain) and sister-in-law (Katie Steenman) organized the World Rowing Coastal Championships in Canada in 2018. Also, my nephew had just been born a few days earlier. It was a great opportunity to travel far, observe, assist, and participate. There, I immediately won gold and silver. I discovered that this sport suits me perfectly and aligns with what I enjoy and excel in. Since then, I have been rowing in both disciplines. It combines perfectly. Additionally, we live on a houseboat on a large lake where substantial waves can form. I train there when it’s windy. I enjoy the dynamics and playing with the waves.

You have managed to be successful in both the Beach Sprints and the Coastal Championships (endurance format). What are the differences between both disciplines?

Haha, the distance! In endurance, you need excellent eyesight because the buoys are placed far apart.

How popular do you think Coastal Rowing and Beach Sprints could become in the Netherlands?

Very popular! Everyone who takes the plunge finds it fantastic to do. You need to be able to do more than just row very well. The complexity makes it spectacular!

How did you first get into rowing?

I was 20, living in a student house, and got a new housemate. A very tall, strong, and fit good looking man. I asked him: do all rowers look like you because then I’ll come and have a look. It was love at first sight! Finally, a sport where it’s normal, no, necessary, to consistently train intensively. It’s pure wealth when you can voluntarily choose your own pain and restrictions in life.

When you aren’t rowing, what does your life look like?

I’m a writer. The last book is entitled: the protein lie. I’m soon completing my fourth book, and I write an informative blog about consciousness development almost daily. I also frequently write about a healthy form of veganism: the win-win diet. As a result of this, I give lectures, coach individuals one-on-one, and host the win-win podcast every week. Oh, and I’m a mother, still breastfeeding our toddler three times a day. Fortunately, I receive a lot of help daily to make all of this work possible.

What are your upcoming goals in coastal rowing?

To win in Monaco (at the Prince Albert Challenge) with Adrian Miramon and Karien Robbers, and we are still looking for a brilliant male skiff rower to complete our team!

Where is your favorite rowing location?

Anywhere in front of other rowers.

If you could give one piece of advice to a rower starting out what would it be?

In today’s world, you’re constantly lured into taking the path of least resistance. Paved with comfort, convenience, and nonchalance. The result? Illness, greed, gluttony and infidelity are given full scope. But remember, treasures are always buried deep and far away. You’ll only reach them by consistently saying YES to a few things and NO to thousands of others. After all, your results are simply a delayed measure of your habits. If you want a life worth living, you’ve got to put in the effort. And at the same time, just have fun, do what you love, and chase your enthusiasm. Do nothing against your will, even if you seem to consent to something that appears useful. Haha, sounds wonderfully contradictory, doesn’t it? But it calls for integrity and authenticity in your actions and decisions. At its core, this statement advises against yielding to external pressures, expectations, or temptations when they conflict with what you consider to be right and true within yourself. Instead of purely pragmatic actions for the sake of utility or external rewards, stay true to your own moral compass and personal values, even if it means going against the current or experiencing temporary discomfort. Follow your own inner convictions and conscience, even if it means diverging from what others may perceive as wise or beneficial. It’s all about preserving your own integrity and acting in accordance with your deeper values and principles.

Long story short: invest loads of cash in personal development—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Know yourself and master your mindset.

What is the most memorable piece of advice that has been said to you?

Eckhart Tolle taught me: ‘You are not your thoughts.’ Life is neutral. Looking and not labeling. Prior to this realization, my mind was in charge, dictating my behavior. Now, I dictate my mind. Or at least I try to!

Do you have a mentor or athlete that you admire?  

Eckhart Tolle, Carl Jung, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus.

Any final thoughts?

The number one regret people have on their deathbed is trying to meet someone else’s expectations instead of saying and doing what they truly want. Success is not a gold medal; success is living your own beautiful life, even if everyone thinks it’s crazy, weird, and unwise and the voice in your head is screaming that’s risky, stupid and people will never like you again. Health is the foundation for everything!