Testimonials

“I started working with Xeno Muller during my novice year. At the time, I was already a Junior and had a lot of catching up to do to be a strong rower for my age. Working with Xeno,  helped transform my stroke into one of the best technical strokes on my team. Xeno also gave me a lot of individual coaching to really understand the fundamentals of the sport. All my club team coaches are very busy and can go weeks without helping me refine my stroke. Xeno also gave me a comprehensive workout plan to gain strength and speed. When COVID 19 made the world stop for 6 months, Xeno was a great help to keep me motivated and to progress in the sport that I love. He gave me a workout routine and the technical tweaks that helped me to reach a sub-7 2k. Without him, I would still be behind my peers. Over the 6+ months he coached me, I would say I have gained years of knowledge and experience. Finally, as my goal is it row in college, Xeno helped me understand what schools I would be a potential fit for me and also helped me understand how I should communicate with coaches.  I would recommend Xeno to any rower trying to get to the next level.“

-JF

From New Jersey:
"We engaged with Xeno to coach our son, a junior in high school and help him improve his technique , gain speed and develop the stamina required to become an elite tower. While our son's ultimate goal was to become a recruitable division I rower, our goal was for him to take on a difficult challenge and conquer it.
Through out the training, Xeno was able to dramatically improve our son's technique, increase his speed and improve his rowing stamina. More importantly, Xeno was able to get to know what made our son tick and how to max out his potential. This was incredibly valuable, especially during COVID as the support system for the athletes buckled, we were left as the only support system and to have Xeno as the lead was extremely helpful.  
Xeno was attentive to our input and was constantly adjusting to make sure that his coaching was effective individually to our son while still maintaining his coaching goals.
We could not be any more enthusiastic in recommending Xeno to any family that is determined to help their child achieve this tremendous goal, it was undoubtedly the best decision we have made for our son on this journey."
H.B.
 
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From Wisconsin 
Thank you Xeno. I sincerely appreciate your enormous impact impact on my son. I’m so grateful for your enthusiasm and optimism, it was contagious. Furthermore, the strength of your conviction and belief in him enabled him to build confidence and ultimately believe in himself. The lessons he learned from you will transcend rowing and I couldn’t be more thankful.
 
From New York


Thanks Xeno!

You are awesome !

I just want to tell you how awesome you have been and how appreciative I am ( we all are ). As you recall my goal was different than Mike’s. The adversity that the training provided and the challenge of becoming a recruitable athlete seemed like an insurmountable task a few months ago . Your work with Mike both physical and mental was crucial to help him conquer his own doubt and take the pain . Although he still has some remnants of self doubt - he is a different person physically and mentally and I believe he has learned a life long lesson - WHICH WAS MY GOAL!.

For Mike's goal, I believe he has put himself in a position to be a recruited athlete. He has made incredible strides and has matured thru this process - and you were a major part of it !

Thank you !!

 
From Newport Beach

I met Xeno Muller at Brown University in 1992 and he was physically the strongest human being I have ever met in my entire life. He proved this to be true as a rower and athlete worldwide through his multiple Olympic medals in 1996 (Gold)and 2000 (Silver).

Xeno and I have crossed paths again now over 20 years later.Now I appreciate Xeno for being one of the kindest and smartest individuals I have known.

Xeno’s ability to teach, motivate, and articulate athletic concepts are altogether exceptional. These qualities along with his positive personality make him an effective coach. I re-introduced fitness back into my life which included a 2k meterergometer race that I completed in 7 minutes. I contacted Xeno and asked if he could coach me to a better score. Within 30 daysmy score went from 7:00 to 6:43.

Xeno has been great. Not only has he coached me to a better score, but to a better level of fitness and overall improvement in the quality of my life. Xeno motivated from a distance through education and often humor. Xeno invested significant effort in my workout summaries and video footage of my rowing on the ergometer. His investment in my training and my results motivated me to accomplish more miles and drove me to become pleasantly accountable to Xeno.

I look forward to working more with Xeno to accomplish my next set of fitness goals and milestones and enjoying the process along the way.  I wholeheartedly and without reservation would recommend my friends and family to Xeno. He would take great care of them and improve their life through fitness.

 Dr. D.

From Baltimore

When we moved to Baltimore, I thought it was going to be easy to find our son a good rowing experience.  Unfortunately, coaches for committed rowers did not exist.  Xeno bridged the gap and literally transformed our son into a rowing beast!  His commitment to excellence, technical expertise and ability to relate to our son made it a wonderful experience.  I found myself sitting in the background and getting excited about his progress and watching him mature as a rower. 

While our son is academically excellent, the competition for elite schools is extremely high.  Rowing made all the difference.  Our son won multiple sculling competitions and was asked to join the National Development Team.  As his erg time continued to improve the accolades kept coming until he was being recruited by several Ivy League and other highly competitive schools.  Xeno was with him every step of the way offering encouragement and motivating our son to do his very best.  Xeno is a superstar and consummate professional.  If you are serious about your child reaching their potential than it is well worth the investment in their future to work with Xeno.

Thanks, Xeno!

NT

Baltimore, Maryland

From Finn, California 
Finn going to Columbia Elite Rowing CoachI started rowing in my Sophomore year of high school, and only seriously got into recruiting the spring of my Junior year. Due to the competitive nature of the Southwest Region I had little to show in terms of race finishes, never having made it to Nationals. In the beginning of my Junior summer, Xeno helped me drop my 2k by 20 seconds, landing me in the competitive range for my dream college. This alone wasn’t enough to get me recruited, however. Over the course of the summer Xeno further refined my stroke, which resulted in my selection to stroke our Head of the Charles 8+. This sealed the deal for my recruitment to my first-choice Ivy League school. Thank you Xeno!
 
From Henry, California
Hello Parents,
I have tried several times to do a video testimonial - but I guess unlike Xeno - I am not a great on-camera speaker.
My name is Henry and I want to tell you that over the past 8+ years -  Xeno MULLER has helped both my son's achieve their target 2K Erg scores. 
In the case of my older son...Xeno helped him drop correct technique flaws with a resulting drop his 2K time by over 10 seconds. This improvement happened in the few  weeks during one of his spring breaks. We have the video of the result. 
In the case of my younger son -who just graduated high school - I'm not at liberty  to tell you his exact level of gains over his time with Xeno, however , I can tell you that we are all  VERY VERY HAPPY with the results.
Summary
As a parent WITHOUT unlimited funds what can we really do to help our children achieve their goals...actually very little.
They must do the work .
They must have the desire...
They must succesfully perform in ongoing seat races and look forward to the countless hours  on the ERG that both build their stamina and help form their character. 
They must completely  attack each grueling practice with sometimes less than the ideal amount of sleep because carrying a full load of AP CLASSES has its own special challenges. 
They must give their all in each race  till they are past the finish line regardless of where they have placed.
Finally-  all that effort needs to be blessed as the time is short and the competition gets better every year. 
So - one off the few things we CAN DO is try to get them the best training. 
In the case of achieving milestone  Erg score improvements-  we looked to Xeno who had already achieved his ELITE dream of Olympic Gold and was both willing to help and does it with a POSITIVE motivating style. 
I can't tell you what will work for your kids...but I can tell you what worked for my mine. 
Hope to see you this summer.
Henry
P.S. If you have addittional.questions Xeno can forward you my cell #

 

Iain K from Oklahoma!  6:15/2K

Mallory G.

 

Testimonial: Matthew's story 6:19 2K

 

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Testimonial: From a 6:34/2K to 6:19/2K in 30 Days, 6'1'' and 190 pounds.

 

"At first sight I was very skeptical of Xeno's coaching service mainly because of the price. But as I got closer to the fall of my senior year, I only had a 6:34 and I needed to get to sub 6:20 quickly and decided to work with Xeno as he was the only one offering this kind of service. Looking back, it was by far the best decision I have ever made for my rowing career. After one month I had a 6:19 I was dreaming of just four weeks earlier. He is the best coach I ever had and I've never met him in person! 10/10" -- Jacobo D

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Kailas' rowing experience with Elite Coaching

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Xeno,
Congratulations on your continued success.  There is no doubt that all the knowledge you share with your students is invaluable and that you are able to change lives with the mentoring you provide .  
A few months back I believe you were looking for testimonials and I just wanted to lend my words to that cause.  
On your website I had seen a claim that you were able to lower a 2 k erg score by 10 seconds in just one month. At that point, I was parent of a new rower  and had no idea what an amazing feat that would be. Unfortunately, we did not have a month as my daughter had an indoor competition just a few weeks away. You created a mini intensive camp for her and in just two weeks you were able to improve her stroke and reduce her erg score by seven seconds.  My daughter is a young, multisport athlete and does not yet demonstrate the desire or passion to be truly successful under your tutelage. However, if anyone has a child who is passionate about rowing, dreaming of rowing in college and in need of a better erg score there cannot possibly be a better coach to help them accomplish this dream! If the time comes that my daughter decides she wants to row in college there is no doubt we will be hoping to work with Xeno Muller once again!!!! 
Xeno you are kind, caring, passionate and professional... Feel free to use my words or share my contact info with anyone in need of a reference. I know our time with you was short but we could not have been more impressed!
Susan Donlan
Evergreen, CO
Mother of Claire

 

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Dear Xeno,

I hope all is well with you. You coached me back in the spring of 2013 through until the fall of that year and under your guidance and support I managed to increase my fitness, row the single faster/more efficiently, and win some big races. Within 6 months of working with you, I made the Canadian National Team at the age of 20. 
This past summer, my teammates and I won Gold in the Men's Quad at the U23 World Rowing Championships. It was an unbelievable career defining moment and one that I will never forget. I have spent the last few months sending these kinds of emails to everyone who has helped me along the way and now I am passing it onto you. 
Thank you for everything you have taught me. Everyday I look for small ways to not only become a better athlete and teammate, but a better individual. The photo I attached is us just as we cross the finish line. I am on the far left in stroke seat. Looking forward to hearing back from you!
Kind Regards,
Taylor Perry
        September 15, 2015
        Xeno Müller,
        I wanted to write you a note to express our deep gratitude for all you did with Kristen as
        she chose to make rowing a part of her college experience.
        At first, thinking about hiring a coach who would work with Kristen over the internet
        seemed not only unusual, but struck as ineffective.
        But after only a few days, and those first videos analyzing Kristen’s stroke (and making us
        all laugh), we realized that you had the ability and program to share your experience and
        ability as a rower and coach to improve her technique and results.
        What we really came to appreciate about you came as the months went on, when we
        realized that Kristen could use you not just for technique, but to provide her with
        encouragement, guidance, perspective, and confidence as she balanced training,
        schoolwork, and the demands of the college process. We will forever remember having
        Kristen tell us she was going to “ask Xeno” when it came to her having to make a
        decision. You have become a trusted person in her life.
        While we value the opportunities your time with Kristen made happen, which she could
        not have done it without you, we most appreciate how you did it. Thanks for caring.
        If there is anything we can do for you in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
        All the Best,
        Rob and Deb Bowman

    • Bruce P. 

    Eighteen months ago, during the early summer of 2013, I told my son he had a decision to make.  He could take rowing seriously or just have fun.  He was sixteen years old and had just pulled his first sub-7:00 2K.  I explained that each additional second would be harder and harder to come by but if he continued on the path he was on, the sky was the limit.  He opted to go for it.

     

    While his erg scores continued to drop over the next few months, the pace of decrease slowed drastically.  Now fully committed to rowing, and to rowing in college, we decided to bring in a pro.  I found Xeno Muller on the Internet, his name was everywhere, and sent off an introductory e-mail.  As much of a “celebrity” as a rower can be, I was skeptical that Xeno would get back to me, let alone be able to take my son on.  I was astounded at how responsive he was.  Xeno immediately responded to my initial list of questions and, after a brief chat that same afternoon, we signed up.

     

    The rest is history.  Another 40 seconds off my son’s 2K score, podium finishes at national and international regattas, selection to the US Junior National Team, and official recruiting visits to Ivy League and powerhouse IRA programs on both coasts.  This week my son was accepted for admission by the school of his dreams and is looking forward to collegiate and international rowing at the highest level.

     

    While there is no doubt that an extraordinary amount of effort and dedication, both on the erg and in school, was required for my son to realize his goals, it wouldn’t have been possible without Xeno.  His personal approach, extreme availability, and light-hearted approach to life and rowing made all the difference in the world.  Our investment in Xeno’s elite coaching was money very well spent.

     

    • Kenny M.

    Working with Xeno Müller has truly been a life changing experience. Before enlisting Xeno's help I was an average rower on my high school team. I enlisted Xeno Müller's help spring of my Sophomore year. Using Xeno's workouts over the summer of my sophomore year led me to be at the front of the pack of my high school team coming into my junior year. I continued working with Xeno throughout the fall and winter of my Junior year, doing technical work, strength training and erging. At my local qualification regatta (midwinter meltdown in Madison) I was two seconds off of qualifying for a free flight to crash bs. Despite failing to qualify (which had been my goal) I continued training and still attended crash bs. When it came to race day I knew I was the fastest junior lightweight there and I had faith in Xeno's training plan. Fortunately my hard work paid off and I won the crash bs hammer. After crash bs I continued working with Xeno and Conal Groom (Head coach of Seattle Rowing Center and Mens JNT Sculling team) in pursuit of the US Junior National team. I was able to make the US JR 4x to compete at the world championships in Hamburg Germany. Through my success in rowing which made possible by Xeno and Conal I now will have the chance to attended the school of my dreams for Lightweight Rowing.

     

    • David F. 
    It gives me great pleasure to provide the strongest possible support for the nomination of Xeno Muller for the Thomas Keller Award.  I am a Physician and Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.  I have also been a rower since the age of 13 (I am now 45).  I have competed at a variety of levels, but as a busy professional with children saw rowing gradually get crowded out of my life.  I connected with Xeno three years ago, and despite the physical distance between us (he in California, me in Toronto) his good humor, wise advice, excellent guidance on training and nutrition, and accessibility brought me back to the sport, first through indoor rowing, and now on the water, where I again compete as a sculler.  I have been so impressed by Xeno's love of rowing and commitment to teaching and coaching young athletes, through the use of webcasts and emerging technologies. 

    He is tireless, dedicated to the sport and dedicated to making athletes achieve their best potential.  Not insignificantly, he is multilingual, and this has allowed him to be, literally, a global ambassador for the sport in the very best sense.  And of course, anyone who has followed international rowing over the past few decades is very aware of Xeno's many achievements as an athlete.  In summary, my connection to Xeno has brought me back to the sport that I love, and I know he has allowed countless other rowers to meet their potential.  I support his nomination in the strongest possible terms.

    David N. Fisman, MD MPH FRCP(C)
    Professor, Epidemiology and Medicine