The Many Talents of Martin Eiermann

Martin Eiermann’s daily to-do list would likely overwhelm even some of the most ambitious Harvard students. Baking bread for friends in the Dudley Co-op, writing freelance journalism for a German political website, and working diligently on a senior thesis all get checked off when he turns in for the night. Oh, and he also happens to be a world-class rower.

Eiermann, the Harvard men’s lightweight crew captain, has built up quite a resume on the water, including numerous top-three finishes in Harvard boats at regional and national championships, as well as an impressive showing on the German senior national lightweight team at the World Championships this past summer. But while all of this rowing experience has certainly bolstered Eiermann’s abilities to lead the Crimson to success this year, his success on the water is only one aspect of his contribution to the Harvard community at large.

“In a sport where you have to have eight guys and a coxswain working together to get across the finish line, people have to work together on the water, but they also have to work together off the water too,” junior Jared Dourdeville says. “I think [Martin has] done a really good job of fostering that on the team.”

Over the past three years, Eiermann has established himself as one of the world’s most elite collegiate lightweight rowers. Just this past summer, he paired up with former teammate and fellow countryman, Moritz Hafner ’09, to represent Germany at the 2009 World Championships in Poznan, Poland. The two Harvard lightweights began the summer racing the lightweight pair, but soon found themselves promoted to the senior national team’s men’s lightweight 8+, with Eiermann setting the boat’s rhythm from stroke seat. Despite a disappointing sixth-place finish at the World Championships, Eiermann returned to Harvard this fall excited to bring his experiences to the team as captain and to pursue all that a senior year at Harvard could offer, on and off the Charles.

“I try to keep the stories [from this past summer] to a minimum,” laughs Eiermann when asked if he has been sharing moments from his Worlds experience with the team. His teammates describe him instead as a quiet and reserved leader who demonstrates intensity and strength by setting an example in work ethic for each of his teammates to follow.

“His experience on the national team this past summer really adds to his credentials as a captain on this team,” sophomore James Stewart says. “He clearly knows what he’s doing and has the highest level of competitive experience [to which we all] can aspire.”

Eiermann started rowing like most recruited collegiate oarsmen, for a learn-to-row program at his high school, Rabanus-Maurus Gymnasium in Germany. He competed at national competitions, but because there was not a lightweight event at the junior world level, he did not make the leap to the global stage until after entering college.

Eiermann spent some time in the United States during high school, on a year-long exchange program in Virginia, and found his way to the Harvard campus through a rather obscure connection.

“I knew some people who knew some people who had siblings here [at Harvard] or something,” explains Eiermann. “I came up to CRASH B’s [indoor rowing championships] and saw the university campus, met the coaches and just loved the feel I got.”

Eiermann was immediately attracted to the Harvard system, one in which he says it is “much easier to combine athletics and college because that’s just how the system is set up.”

Eiermann lives in the Harvard Dudley Co-operative Society, an alternative housing option for undergraduates. The Dudley Co-op houses 32 students and two resident tutors who do all of their own cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping. Eiermann is the only athlete currently living in the Co-op, and it is another campus community in which he is an active participant.

“A lot of people are usually surprised that I live in the Dudley Co-op,” Eiermann says. “It’s almost easier to live there as an athlete and even a lightweight because everyone there already eats healthier.”

In interviews, Eiermann’s teammates can’t help but mention their captain’s hidden talent for bread-making, one of his tasks in the Co-op. Nor can they resist talking about his writing gig for a German political website.

“I interview people, I write posts, and I research stuff for this political website some of my friends began in Germany,” Eiermann says. “It’s really just free-lance journalism. It’s fun to do, and it’s on my own time so it works out well.”

Eiermann is somewhat of a Renaissance Man, but in the end, crew remains his priority. This weekend’s Head of the Charles Regatta begins competition for his lightweight squad, and the team’s performance may provide some insight into how they’ll respond when the sprint season starts in the spring.

“After the final [at Worlds], I was pretty bummed for a day or two,” said Eiermann. “But I just grew more excited for this coming season. We had a strong year last year, although we came up a little short at Sprints and IRAs. But this year, with a really strong sophomore class and a lot of upperclassmen returning, we’ll be right in it.”