STRAIGHT MATE /
GOLD ON THE WIND
AT 25, JASON WATERHOUSE HAS ALREADY SEEN THE WORLD AND BECOME AN OLYMPIC-QUALIFYING SAILOR. HE TELLS MATTHEW MYERS ABOUT FINDING INSPIRATION IN IAN THORPE, WEARING A HARNESS, AND THAT TIME HE WENT TO A GAY BAR IN DENMARK!
DNA: Congratulations on making the Olympic team. Are there any Olympic athletes who particularly inspire you? Jason Waterhouse: Ian Thorpe is really special for me. I was only nine when the Olympics were in Sydney and I’d just started getting involved and watching a lot of sport. He was a great Aussie athlete, and I really think he woke up a lot of Australians to get behind all our athletes. To see him compete and be successful under so much pressure was amazing. He’ll go down in history as a legend. What did you think of his coming out? That really interested me, to be honest. I was 38 DNA
overseas when it happened and I thought it was great that he could be a role model to so many people. To come out was inspirational to everyone, including myself. All athletes should have the confidence to say, “I am who I am.” There are a few openly gay Olympians now, like Matthew Mitcham and Tom Daley in diving, and Edward Gal in equestrian – what about in sailing? Yep, one of my main competitors from the Netherlands, Coen de Koning, is gay. I’ve been competing against him for five years and he’s a multiple world champion. He’s a great bloke. In fact, he’s going to be one of our toughest competitors in Rio. It’s good for sport to have gender equality and sexual equality. I think that gap is finally closing. It’s awesome. So you have gay mates in the sport? I’ve met great gay couples while cruising. There was one Irish couple that we spent a few months cruising the world with. My sister and brother-in-law and I still keep in touch with them. They’re successful businessmen now living in Potts Point, Sydney and they got married about two years ago. You’ll be competing in the mixed multi-hull.
When Ian Thorpe came out it was inspirational to everyone, including myself. All athletes should have the confidence to say, I am who I am. Can you explain a bit about that for non-sailing people? We sail in the Nacra 17 mixed multi-hull. There’s only two crew, and it’s mixed so there’s one male and one female. My cousin, Lisa Darmanin is my crew. We’ve never had this in the sport before so it’s really exciting.
You grew up in a sailing family and as a child spent four years sailing around the world. What was that experience like? It was great for bonding with my sister and my parents. We met so many people and saw so many different places. To do that at such a young age really molds you as a human being. It’s something I really appreciated and I’m looking forward to doing it one day with my own family. With that much experience, what are your favourite travel destinations now? That’s a tough one because there are so many. I really enjoy the Pacific Ocean and the islands in French Polynesia, like the Tuamotu Atolls, but I also really enjoy Slavonia in Europe with its great mountain ranges. I like hiking and white water kayaking, and I guess I like the parts of the world that are quiet and natural. Have you been to Rio before? I’ve spent about four months there training, but sailing is quite a different sport and we need to go over to check the weather conditions, the current, the topography of the landscape and the numerous racecourses. In sailing we are heavily influenced by the climate and environment, because we deal with the wind. Have you ever been to a gay club? Yeah, in Denmark. I was only about 18. My mates were trying to pick up girls. It wasn’t until the club owner came over and told us it was, in fact, a gay club. Then he bought us all drinks. [Laughing.] Yeah, he was a top bloke and we had a great time. What advice can you give to anyone who dreams of competing at the Olympics? There’s always ups and downs. It’s important to
realise that in order to become a champion you have to face adversity first. Any great sporting team or athlete will say that is part of being an Olympian. If you put in the hard work and believe in yourself you’ll get there. Before competing what do you do to counter nerves and get “in the zone”? I generally listen to a lot of music beforehand. I take ten minutes out with the headphones and get into some pretty heavy beats. If I’m tired and need to amp up, I’ll put on some Presets or Rufus. Or for a cool down, I’ll chuck on some John Butler or John Mayer. What’s the campest thing you listen to? Earth Wind And Fire! I really like them. They’re groovy! I love their song Let’s Groove. And your diva? Taylor Swift. I like her romantic and upbeat songs and she’s a stunner, too! My cousin went to see her in concert and I was pretty jealous! I love the song I Knew You Were Trouble. It’s got a cool beat and some grunt! What do you do to keep fit? I go to the gym, but I have to stay pretty skinny. The boats in Rio are quite light, so I have to do a lot of cardio work to keep my muscle mass lean. Diet is really strict with us, and we have a dietitian looking after the team. But I also like surfing and chucking the footy around. I’m a big fan of rugby union. I try to keep active to also keep my mind sharp. This is our Grooming Issue. What is the best tip you can give us? For me it’s all about the facial hair. I carry my stubble trimmer all around the world and like to mix it up. I have a bit of a superstition that I don’t shave during an event, so I always end it with a nice shadow.
When you win gold in Rio… Thanks mate! …will you get a tattoo? Well, I was thinking about it. I made a promise to myself that if I ever qualified for the Olympics I’d get a tattoo but mum wasn’t happy about that. Now she’s agreed that if I win gold I can get a tattoo. No pressure! Where would you put the tattoo? I’ve got a lot of chest hair, so maybe under the arm, on the bicep or the shoulder. What about your butt! Yes, if I had to go option B, I’d go the arse! Speaking of which, are you a jocks man, fitted boxers or free-baller? I’ve been a free-baller my whole life. In the sport we have to wear a harness and let’s just say it doesn’t leave much room. Down there is quite a sensitive spot and you’ve got to look after it, so the more room you can create the better. I’ve been like that ever since trapezing on the boat at ten years of age, and I’ve been rocking that program ever since. And when you hit the beach in Rio will you be wearing hipster briefs? [Laughing] I’d like a pair to be honest. I’ve walked down Copacabana a few times and they don’t leave much to the imagination!
The Summer Olympics in Rio: August 5 to 21. MORE: visit rio2016.olympics.com.au Follow Jason on Twitter @WaterhouseJas
Jason in action on the water, and preparing in Rio.
WHO WOULD YOU TURN GAY FOR? “Travis Fimmel. He’s a great Aussie actor, and looks badass as Ragnar Lothbrok on Vikings.” DNA 39