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!
Congratulations on making the Olympic team. How does that feel?
The best way to describe it is unreal! In fact, it won’t feel real until I land in Rio. But it’s certainly a dream come true, and I’m very proud. I’ll probably take photos in the opening ceremony like everyone else, but I’m going to try and keep everything cool until after the event. It’ll be hard not to get excited with the opening ceremony!
You’ll be competing in the mixed multi-hull. Can you explain a bit about that for non-sailing people?
We sail in the Nacra 17 mixed multi-hull and that requires having a male and female gender onboard. There’s only two crew on board but the unique thing is that it’s male and female. So technically it’s divided as fifty/fifty, like skipper and crew. For example, my cousin, Lisa Darmanin is my crew. We’ve never had this in a sport before, so it’s really exciting. Having a crack involving both genders is fantastic and it’s not just about having this in sailing, but for sport in general.
You grew up in a sailing family, and spent four years sailing around the world as a child. What was that experience like?
I was really fortunate getting the opportunity to see the world at quite a young age. It was really good for bonding with my sister and my parents, and 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.
Jason Waterhouse
So what are your favourite travel destinations?
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 islands. But on the other spectrum, I really enjoy Slavonia in Europe with its great mountain ranges. I really enjoy hiking and white water kayaking, and I guess I like the parts of the world that are quiet, native and natural.
Have you been to Rio before?
Yeah 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 typography of the landscape and the numerous race courses. In sailing we are heavily influenced by the environment and climate for sailing, because we deal with the wind.
All athletes in the world should have the confidence to say I am who I am.
Who are your most inspirational Olympians?
That’s a good one. I think Ian Thorpe is really special, because I was only nine when the Olympics were in Sydney, and that’s when I really started to get involved and watched sport heavily. He was a great Aussie athlete and I really think it woke Australians up to get behind our athletes. To see him compete and be successful under so much pressure was amazing and he’ll go down in history as a legend.
What did you think of his coming out?
That really integed me to be honest. I was overseas when that happened, and I thought it was great how he could be such a role model to so many people. To come out was inspirational to everyone, including myself. All athletes in the world should have the confidence to say I am who I am.
There have been other LGBTI Olympians like Matthew Mitcham, Tom Daley and Edward Gal, who are quite open about their sexuality. Have you ever been aware of gay people in the sport?
Yep, one of my main competitors from the Netherlands, Coen de Koning, is gay. I’ve been competing against him for about five years and he’s a multiple world champion. In fact he’s going to be one of our toughest competitors in Rio. He’s a great bloke. I think it’s good for sport to have gender equality and sexual equality. I think that gap is finally being closed. It’s awesome!
Do you have gay mates?
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, brother-in-law and I still keep in touch with them. They’re successful businessmen now living in Potts Point and they got married about two years ago.
Who would you turn for?
I would turn gay for Travis Fimmel. He’s a great Aussie actor, and looks badass as Ragnar Lothbrok in the TV series Vikings.
Who is you diva?
I like 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 a cool beat and it’s got some grunt!
Have you ever been to a gay club?
Yeah in Denmark, when I was quite young, and I didn’t realise it at the time. Everyone was having a great time, and my mates were trying to pick up birds, and it wasn’t until the club owner came over and told us it was a gay club, and bought us all drinks.
I think it’s good for sport to have gender equality and sexual equality.
I bet he did!
(Laughing) Yeah he was a top bloke and we had a great time. I was only about eighteen.
What advice can you give to anyone who dreams of competing at the Olympics?
There is always ups and downs, and that goes deeper than sport with life in general. I think it’s important to realise in order to become a champion, you have to face adversity first. I think any great sporting team or athlete will say that is a 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 band you’d listen to?
Earth, Wind & Fire! I really like them. They’re groovy! In fact I love their song Let’s Grove.
Jason Waterhouse
What do you do to keep fit?
I got to the gym, but I also 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 the event with a nice shadow.
When you win gold in Rio, will you get a tattoo?
Thanks mate! Well, I was actually thinking about it. I kind of 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. Not to put the pressure on! (Laughing)
Where would you put the tattoo?
I’m not sure. I’ve got a lot of chest hair, so maybe under the arm, on the bicep or the shoulder.
Or 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!
What about at the Olympics – will you be wearing ‘Rio’ hipster briefs?
(Laughing) I’d like a pair to be honest. Maybe Speedo will make me some for me! But I’ve walked down the Copacabana a few times, and they don’t leave much to the imagination!
The Summer Olympics run from August 5 to 21
For more visit rio2016.olympics.com.au
Follow Jason on Twitter @WaterhouseJas
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