University of Cambridge alumni and current students enjoyed remarkable success at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai last week, with four athletes claiming gold medals on the international stage.

James Robson (Peterhouse), Douwe de Graaf (St Edmund’s), and George Bourne (Peterhouse) – all members of the Men’s Blue Boat 2025 – won gold representing Team GB. They were joined on the podium by incoming postgraduate student Camille VanderMeer (Peterhouse), who took gold for Team USA in the Women’s Four.

Other Cambridge rowers also represented their countries with distinction. Megan Lee (Lucy Cavendish), Paige Badenhorst (Magdalene), and Imogen Grant (Trinity) added further strength to their national squads, while new arrivals Alexander McClean (Hughes Hall) and Emelie Eldracher (Fitzwilliam) gained valuable experience at world level. Read more about the rowers’ achievements here.

The Championships were not the only cause for celebration. Over the weekend, alumna and CUBC Club Chair Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY (St John’s) was elected Vice President of World Rowing. A long-standing advocate for athlete wellbeing and sporting integrity, her appointment marks another milestone in a distinguished career both on and off the water. Find more details here.