Jaime Fernandez spent his childhood in a remote mining town in the Northern Territory, helped care for his younger brother suffering from a fatal case of Leukaemia, represented Australia at the Olympics Games on three occasions, walked around Stadium Australia in front of 110,000 adoring fans, came within two-feet of winning an Olympic rowing gold medal, and shared in the joy of raising children.
On the eve of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Jaime took time out to reflect on his vast life experiences, reawaken the joy of representing his country and tell of his amazing story…
***
Jaime Fernandez grew up in the small mining town of Gove, located on the crest of Arnhem Land in the very north-east region of the Northern Territory. Gove, a community of 3000 people only accessible by vehicle in the dry season, provided an isolated up bringing for the talented footballer.
Miguel, Jaime’s younger brother of six years, faced an uphill battle with a rare form of Leukaemia. Miguel’s poor health left the family with little choice but to move to Adelaide, where the young fighter could receive adequate treatment for his condition.
Upon relocating to the City of Churches, Jaime and Miguel found it difficult to enrol in a school. “I distinctly remember looking around this one school,” Jaime recalled. “My mother was pushing Miguel in his wheelchair while he was coughing up blood into a bowl. An administrator walked right up to us and said ‘sorry, we don’t take kids like you’”.
Miguel didn’t have to put up with such torment for a great deal longer. When Jaime was 16-years-old and studying year 11 at Adelaide’s Christian Brothers College, Leukaemia brought an end to the short, brave life of his younger brother.
Jaime’s introduction to the sport of rowing came purely by chance: “At school, we had to play a summer sport. I had a mate who did a bit of rowing… so I thought ‘ah well I’ll give it a go’.
“I loved it from the very first second. It’s the ultimate team sport,” Jaime explained. “Just before I graduated, my rowing coach said to me ‘one day, you’ll represent Australia at the Olympic Games’. I laughed.”
After completing his school education, Jaime went on to study science teaching at Adelaide University and play Australian Football for West Adelaide.
For the second time in his life, the athlete fell into rowing by sheer chance. Jaime was asked to fill in for Adelaide Uni’s rowing unit courtesy of a team member’s absence. This time, however, Jaime Fernandez was not about to let his opportunity slip.
Within the space of two short years, the 19-year-old Northern Territory lad was stepping onto a plane en route to the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. The Australian men’s 8s finished a credible fifth in the final, but the Games weren’t about results.
“The whole journey was just amazing,” the Olympian said. “The Barcelona Games were even more special because my father is Spanish, it was my very first Olympics and lastly, because they did an outstanding job hosting them.”
Life took a different turn for Jaime after arriving home from his debut Olympics. Rowing called, as did a 10-year scholarship with the AIS in Canberra. Jaime packed up his belongings and headed for the Nation’s Capital.
As it turned out, moving to Canberra paid dividens in and out of the water. In 1996 Jaime Fernandez first laid eyes on his soon-to-be wife, Mary-Jane Harding, a young woman from the other side of Yass studying teaching at university.
By 1999, the pair exchanged vows. Three-years later, they celebrated the birth of their second child Ashley.
After finishing 6th at the 1996 Atlanta Games, the Australian Men’s rowing 8 set their sights on the upcoming Sydney Olympics.
For two years, Jaime and his seven team mates spent 4-6 hours training each day. By the time Australia’s second hosted Olympiad arrived, the dedicated Aussie outfit was eyeing off a coveted gold medal.
Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony is an event sure to stay in the mind of Jaime Fernandez until the day he dies.
“It was the most surreal experience of my life. Before walking out into the Stadium, all the nations’ athletes wait at a nearby venue used as a ‘holding pen’. There were athletes from hundreds of countries signing, chanting, revving each other up – the New Zealanders were performing the Haka – it was just incredible. As the host nation, Australia was the last country to enter the Stadium. As a senior Olympian I was one of the first in line when we set foot on Stadium Australia. More than 110,000 screaming, chanting spectators erupted as one when we appeared. By this stage my heart rate was near 200.
“It’s something that will stay with me forever.”
Only a few days later, dumbfounded onlookers threw their arms up in despair, United Kingdom officials and supporters jumped for joy, Jaime Fernandez slumped in exhaustion. Australia’s Men’s 8s rowing team finished 0.8 seconds behind the gold medal winning UK outfit.
“At the end of the day, it’s disappointing to finish so close, but only for a short time. When I was standing on the podium with our flag raised and fans singing the national anthem, I was filled with pride.”
After the 2000 Games, three times Olympian Jaime Fernandez called an end to his rowing career.
From one full-time job to another, the silver medallist and his new wife Mary-Jane began their own family in Yass. Something Jaime describes as a far greater feat than representing his country.
“Raising children is the greatest – far more rewarding than the Olympics. It’s phenomenal to come home each night and see your kids.”