was quite good at cross country and athletics and he picked me out. I'd seen rowing and through it'd be pretty cool. WR: Being from Picton (a small sea-side town), where would you train? JS: When I was a novice we would train on the harbour and get swamped all of the time by fishing boats. Then we started training on a nearby river, the Wairau River, about half an hour away. WR: You've called yourself the 'smallest heavyweight in the world'. What are your vital statistics? JS: I'm 182cm and 82kg. WR: Have you ever been pushed to become lightweight? JS: No, it's never been an option and I never wanted to, even at high school. I always rowed against the heavyweights. WR: Where do you think your strength in the sport lies? JS: I don't know! [Laughs] I'm a bit stubborn. People have always told me I'm too small and I like to prove people wrong. WR: Is there something that you can outdo your teammates in? JS: Not really. I'm the slowest in the team on the erg and I can't lift as much [weights]. WR: You're a similar height to Nathan [doubles partner, Nathan Cohen] how was it when you first started rowing with Nathan? JS: It was good getting in the boat with Nathan. We balance each other out. Where he's weak I'm strong. He's got a longer stroke and is more consistent through a race. I'm more a starter and a finisher. WR: Both