Meet Jack Nunn

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jack Nunn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jack below.

Jack , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

My outlook on life comes from my parents. My mother taught me to stay grounded and practice gratitude daily. My dad is one of the most positive individuals I know and has overcome so much adversity. He always had told me to stay positive, be present, and seek the best in everything that you go thorough in life—good or bad. 

As far as sports and athletics, it’s been a huge part of my life. Not only thanks to my dad, an Olympic medalist and coach, but also both of my grandfathers who played football (one for Stanford University, and the other professionally for the Boston Shamrocks.) 

But my dad is really the reason I got involved in athletics. Apart from rowing, he was a marathon runner and an incredible downhill skier. (He taught me to ski when I was just three years old.) He encouraged me to play as many sports as possible to find the one that really clicked. I loved the challenge of excelling at multiple sports simultaneously, and my childhood centered around baseball, soccer, ice hockey, skiing, surfing, cycling, and rowing. I have always admired athletes like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders for their multi-sport success.

I think, though, the biggest thing I’ve adhered to over the years and throughout my athletic career is what my dad exemplifies every day: optimism. I firmly believe maintaining a positive attitude is crucial in overall success in life. It might sound simple and unrealistic, but it’s something I remind myself to do all the time. Not every day is going to be perfect, and not everything is always going to go your way. But your mindset is everything.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the owner of a gym in Long Beach, California called Roworx Fitness. We offer fitness classes focused on rowing on the Concept 2 rowing machine, lifting, weights, and cardio. I also regularly coach rowing on the water for various groups, including Masters (adults), juniors, and collegiate athletes, and I’m also the assistant coach for Men’s and Women’s Rowing at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. I’m also an Ironman and have competed in more than two dozen races around the world. 

My love for rowing, though, comes from my dad. He won a bronze medal in double sculls at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City and later coached the US Men’s Team in the 1976 Games in Montreal. He still coaches to this day and competed for many years up until about 10 years ago. 

For me, rowing is life. I didn’t start until I was in high school, but it quickly became my passion. I earned a rowing scholarship to UC Berkeley and later joined the US National Rowing Team. It was such an honor to compete at that level and be among the best rowers in the world, and now, I love coaching others in Marina del Rey and Long Beach. I’ve worked with some incredible clients including celebrities and triathletes. That has been so rewarding for me. Marine Stadium, where I regularly row and coach, is the future rowing venue for the LA 2028 Olympic Games. I love to teach and share my love of the sport with anyone who wants to learn. But I always make sure it’s fun, too. That’s what it’s all about. 

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

First, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and be open to learning from others—especially when it comes to learning a new skill or sport. In college, it was so helpful to turn to the expertise of coaches for tips and advice, and my guidance advisors for everything from class selection to professor recommendations. 

Second, stay focused and set goals. Once there’s a goal—no matter how big or small—it’s about working towards it every day. 

Third, have a sense of humor. It’s important to laugh and look to the lighter side in life. This isn’t always easy, but not everything has to be so serious.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

This is a tough one, because I think the fact that I lucked out with having them as my parents might be the most impactful thing. My parents continually emphasize the importance of hard work, family, love, guidance, education, finding joy, and of course, sports. They also instilled strong core values and how doing what you love—whether as a career or a sport—is one of the key things in life. 

I’ll end with a quote from my dad: “The journey is the reward.”

And, one of my favorite quotes from my mom: “If you start something, do it to the best of your ability and finish it. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

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Jack Nunn

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