UBC master’s of public health student Parker Illingworth couldn’t stop rowing.
“I'm so used to doing school and rowing,” she said. “The idea of going home just kind of felt like quitting to me.”
In August 2022, she returned to the University of Texas (UT) and quickly realized something was wrong.
“I would come back from practice and my head would just be pounding,” Illingworth said.
She thought it might be a concussion. She found out it was long COVID-19.
Despite constant pain and nausea-inducing medication, Illingworth refused to take a break — even when her parents urged her to return home to Seattle. She held herself to exceptional standards. It was why she’d chosen UT Austin — though their program lacked a storied past, she’d admired the team’s ambition and devotion to victory.
Her time in Texas had been immediately successful. As a freshman, Illingworth rowed four-seat at the 2020/21 NCAA championships, contributing to the Longhorns’ first-ever national title. The following year, she earned all-conference honours, playing a significant role in the Longhorns’ second consecutive national championship. But long COVID-19 derailed her third year.
Illingworth wasn’t off her COVID-19 medication until March 2023. Finally healthy, she worked relentlessly to re-climb the roster ranks — but she wasn’t quick enough. Though she was again named to the all-conference team, she was left behind when UT advanced to the NCAA championships.
“I actually got sent home early in May, and I was really frustrated and angry,” said Illingworth. “So I reached out to the Canadians and was like, ‘Can I compete with you this summer?’”
Illingworth, who has dual citizenship through her Québécois father, had often visited Canada throughout her childhood. But with a primarily American background, she felt like an outsider on the Canadian team. The only person she knew was her ex’s best friend.
“It was scary coming into a new environment,” Illingworth said. “And tensions were high because we all wanted a seat in the boat.”
However, once the roster was decided — and Illingworth had made the cut — she grew closer to her peers. She was successful on the water, too. Representing Canada at the U23 World Championships that summer, Illingworth and her teammates earned bronze in women’s eight.
Afterward, Illingworth continued to row for Team Canada, winning gold at the 2023 Pan American Games. Then, her Canadian coaches expressed an intent to promote Illingworth to the senior team.
At the time, Illingworth was weighing a number of potential graduate schools. She thought she’d have to step away from athletics to pursue her master’s degree, but the offer meant she could continue to work toward Olympic qualification if she attended UBC.
“I think that kind of sealed the deal, that I could keep pursuing both dreams at the same time,” said Illingworth.
Growing up, Illingworth never dreamed of becoming an Olympic rower. She’d grown up watching races with her mom, a former rower for the University of Washington, but “always thought they were the most boring thing ever.”
But she wasn’t good at other sports she’d tried, so in grade seven, Illingworth signed up for a rowing class. Out on the cold water, under the dark skies and rainfall of Seattle winter, she fell in love with the sport.
It wasn’t until she was being recruited out of high school that Illingworth realized she could have a future in rowing. Even then, she only foresaw a collegiate career. Now, her ambitions extend far higher. Once she completes her UBC degree, she plans to join the Canadian senior team full-time with the grander goal of rowing in the Olympics.
The Olympics are well within reach for Illingworth, who has already competed against and alongside Olympians. At the 2023 Pan American Games, she was coxed by Kristen Kit, who participated in Canadian gold and silver medal victories at Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024, respectively. Kit was one of three UBC rowing alumni to compete in the most recent Olympics — a statistic Illingworth hopes to be a part of in the future.
However, even if her Olympic aspirations fall short, Illingworth has no plans to stop anytime soon.
“I love when you're in a boat and you're just all rowing in sync,” said Illingworth. “It feels like you're flying.”
“Imagining not rowing is crazy to me,” she said.
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