2023-06-20 16:33:09
Jeannine Gmelin announced her retirement from top-level sport in January of this year.
Keystone
Jeannine Gmelin, the most successful Swiss rower in history, lost her coach and life partner Robin Dowell in December 2022 and announced her retirement shortly therefollowing. Now Gmelin explains how she deals with the blow of fate.
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In December 2022, Jeannine Gmelin’s trainer and friend Robin Dowell died in a training accident. Gmelin, the 2017 world rowing champion, then announced her retirement from top-class sport. The 33-year-old explains how she is dealing with the tragedy and deals with the question of where their future lies.
Six months have passed since Jeannine Gmelin had the rug pulled out from under her feet. On December 16, 2022, a tragic accident occurred during a normal training session. Her trainer and friend Robin Dowell died unexpectedly at the age of 40.
With the “Swiss magazines” the 2017 rowing world champion talks regarding the tragedy and says how she is dealing with it now. During practice, Gmelin suddenly noticed that Dowell, who was an epileptic, had his motorboat in an odd position in the water. What exactly happened is still unclear to this day. Gmelin tried everything to revive her partner, but to no avail.
Actually, the woman from Zurich wanted to continue until following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but the unexpected death of her coach thwarted her plan. Gmelin, who celebrates her 33rd birthday today, Tuesday, announced her retirement in January.
The connection to Robin remains
“Sometimes the contrast is stark. How sad you are and can still feel joy or happiness », says Gmelin today. “I didn’t know that before. I thought there was only either or in mourning.” What helps her are diary entries. She writes to Robin even when she feels that he is with her. “As if I had a hand on my shoulder,” says Gmelin, who speaks of a “deep connection”. “Robin was an extraordinary person.”
Jeannine Gmelin in September 2020 with Robin Dowell.
Keystone
It had been bad for her for a long time. “I had zero appetite, no capacity for the things that are essential for survival,” says Gmelin, who received great help from her sister Angelina during the difficult time. Six months following the tragedy, she feels the first small changes. The appetite has leveled off once more. And sport is back in Gmelin’s life too. She doesn’t row, but goes jogging, gets on her bike or does strength training.
Now Jeannine Gmelin is dealing with the question of where her future lies. “I want to accompany people who are stuck in a challenging process or who want to progress, develop,” she says. She runs training courses at the See-Club Luzern. She has also started training as an integral coach.
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