Over the summer, Washington State Athletics will post a series of feature stories about Cougar student-athletes written by students from Washington State's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. The first feature is on WSU rower Tannith Johnson, written by Ila Pinkham.
PULLMAN, Wash. – Tannith Johnson is an admirer of all things wild.
"I've always been around animals. My first birthday was in Kenya. I just think I've always loved them," the Washington State University rower said.
Johnson was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her father worked as a wildlife photographer and tour guide and his work assignments allowed her to travel throughout the African continent, including to Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Johnson's love for animals is exemplified by her love for riding horses. She has been an equestrian since she was in fifth grade.
"You have a best friend, especially if you have your own horse," 20-year-old Johnson said.
Johnson's horse, Aurora, is a Thoroughbred and Irish warmblood cross, born in Zimbabwe.
"She's a wild little horsey," she said. "She's a chestnut mare."
A chestnut mare is a horse with a chestnut brown base color and white markings. The stereotypical chestnut mare can be described as a horse with a fiery spirit and short temper.
Along with show jumping, riding horses with her best friend in the fields is one of Johnson's favorite activities.
"I could do that forever," she said.
Horseback riding taught Johnson the importance of dedication and grit. When she first started competing, her horse would get nervous and pull up short before jumps, which eliminated her from competitions. Working with horses through rough patches is not for the faint of heart. A particular rough patch included Johnson's horse bucking her off, into a fence.
"It was funny though," she said.
Johnson persevered through the rough patches as an equestrian and was better for it.
Johnson not only excelled as an equestrian, but as a rower, too.
Johnson comes from a family of rowers. Her sister, brother and parents are all avid rowers. She is well acclimated to the student-athlete lifestyle. She was an equestrian and a rower throughout primary and secondary schools.
"I would have morning practice, equestrian, rowing practice, all at the same time," Johnson said.
Being recruited to compete at the collegiate level is one of her biggest triumphs, Johnson said.
Rowing has provided Johnson an opportunity to attend college and pursue a career in wildlife conservation. Her lifelong love for the environment and its wildlife compelled her to pursue a career in conservation. She is majoring in philosophy and minoring in ecology and conservation.
"I want my kids to live in a world with rhinos," Johnson said.
Johnson is already maneuvering to work in the conservation field. She has an internship working for the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in summer 2021. She aspires to work in Alaska and Yellowstone National Park, to learn about the land and animals there.
