Laird native brings home gold in rowing; has competed nationally and around the world (4 photos)

Karl Zimmermann loves water.

As a PhD student in chemical and biological engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Karl, a Laird Township native, is dedicated to the need to protect and promote safe drinking water.

An important endeavour to be certain, but more dramatically for sports fans, Karl has won gold medals for his athletic achievements on the surface of the water in rowing tournaments nationally and internationally.

“When I was in high school at Korah I did cross country running and track and field, and I love those things, but when I went to university I wanted to try something new. My dad had rowed when he was in university, and the Canadian Olympic men’s and women’s rowing teams had won silver medals at the 2012 Olympic Games, so that inspired me to try rowing. I was a novice, but I fell in love with the sport and spent the next two years conditioning myself to reach my best,” Zimmerman said, speaking to SooToday.

“I’ve had fantastic coaches and I jumped on any opportunity to get out on the water. After two years I decided I wanted to go bigger and represent Canada at some point.”

While studying in British Columbia, Karl made the Canadian U23 national team and travelled to the worlds in Bulgaria in 2015, rowing on a four-man team.

“We won the gold medal that year. We were underdogs. No one really expected us to do much and we just wanted to give it our best, but things worked out well,” Zimmerman said. 

“I can still, to this day, remember the amazing feeling of being on the podium and hearing the Canadian national anthem.”

Zimmerman has continued to compete in many rowing events, making it to the prestigious annual Henley Royal Regatta in England as part of the UBC team in July.

“We ended up getting knocked out by Oxford University in a very close race, but it was a great experience.”

Then, Zimmerman competed as part of an eight-man UBC team at the Canadian University Rowing Championships (also known as the CURCs) in Victoria, BC Nov. 2 and 3, his team winning gold in their category.

Zimmerman also won gold in the men’s single event.

“I had the race of a lifetime against the guys from Trent and Queen’s in the singles. They really pushed me right to the line. I didn’t think I had it in me to pull off that kind of speed in the race, but things worked out.” 

Zimmerman finished with a time of 6:52:29, beating the Queen’s rower’s time of 6:53:28.

“Rowing is a unique balance of individual performance. On a team, each member has to be fit and personally driven. Athletically and psychologically you need to know why you’re waking up at four in the morning in pouring rain to practice, but once you get into the boat that feeling goes away,” Zimmerman chuckled.

“Each guy has to be totally in harmony, really together when you race...every move, you have to be perfectly in sync. It’s quite challenging. That feeling of perfection is amazing, and that’s what we always strive for. I like rowing in the early mornings and the peace and calm on the water.”

Zimmerman said he “absolutely” recommends others get into rowing.

“It’s a late entry sport. You can play other sports, they recommend you try other sports and join rowing when you’re a bit older, in university. It worked out for me. Many people can row into their mid-30s in the Olympics.”

As for Zimmerman's future?

Now 24, Zimmerman said “in Canadian university sports you’re only allowed to race for five years, so this is the end of my eligibility for university athletics,” but added he has given competing in the Olympics some thought.

That said, Zimmerman stated “I enjoy what I do in my PhD work and I really want to contribute to society with the promotion and development of good drinking water...there are a lot of ways I feel I can be successful and make a contribution.”