Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet Veronica Nicacio

My name is Veronica Nicacio, and I grew up the eldest of seven kids in Vancouver, Washington. After high school, I attended the University of Portland where I rowed on the varsity team, majored in biology, and minored in theology. After a year of volunteering with a campus ministry, I decided I wanted to go back to training and pursue my dream of being an Olympian by joining the ARION elite rowing team in Upstate New York. I love reading, hiking, writing, art, and anime.

What is your family background?

Both sets of my grandparents are immigrants from México from the city Guadalajara and state of Jalisco. #GoChivas. Both of my grandparents came over to work and eventually became citizens and residents of Washington State in the PNW. Both my parents were born there and the majority of my first cousins, tías, tíos still live there.

How did you get into rowing?

I was always active growing up and dabbled in many different sports. My freshman year of high school, I suffered from many shin injuries from track. So, I decided to try something new – the local rowing club in my hometown called Vancouver Lake Crew. I fell in love with it and never looked back!

What motivates you to keep going when things get difficult?

Knowing what my "why" is. Everyone has a different reason why they row, especially at this level when choosing to train full time isn't exactly financially smart or logical for a long-term career path. For me, it is a cumulation of many different reasons, such as for my community and family, but the core of it is that I want to grow as much as I can as a person. I see this lifestyle of constantly pushing yourself to your limits and setting new goals and aspirations as one of the best ways to do so.

I know I am called to be the best person I can be, but the only way to do that is to not be afraid to challenge yourself and face your flaws and weaknesses head on. The body and mind are connected, and if you can master one, then the other will come naturally.

What is the most meaningful aspect of rowing to you?

The teamwork and vulnerability involved. There are so many teachable moments in the sport that are directly applicable to real life situations. The necessity to trust each other in team boats during a race is absolutely crucial for success, laying it all out not only for yourself but for your teammates because you know they are doing the same for you.

No matter the different backgrounds or beliefs others may have, to be united for purpose, see each other as equal, and respect and trust the other completely is an amazing experience.

The theme for Hispanic Heritage Month this year is Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America. How do we continue driving progress in rowing?

By maintaining respect and meeting people where they are at. Rowing isn't the most accessible sport, especially on the West Coast, but there have been more programs popping up such as Stem to Stern, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, and Camp Lucy by the Pocock Foundation. These programs and others should be highlighted more to the rest of the rowing community and supported as much as possible.

Out of the many sports I have played in my life, I've found that rowers have a high caliber of sportsmanship and respect, and as long as we maintain that same level to all, I believe we can grow to create a more well-rounded community.