GB Students dominate the 2025 FISU World University Games, claiming victory in five medal events and securing first place in the rowing medal standings.
Great Britain's Rowing Team Shines at 2025 FISU World University Games
At the 2025 FISU World University Games held in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, Great Britain's rowing team stole the show, topping the rowing medal table with an impressive haul of five medals.
The team, composed of twenty-six student athletes from across the country, included seasoned international athletes, World Cup competitors, U23 medallists, and those earning international vests for the first time. This diverse mix reflected a successful GB Rowing development pathway.
The British rowers delivered a series of outstanding performances, securing three gold medals in the women’s four, men’s eight, and women’s eight events. Josh Knight earned a brilliant silver medal in the Men's single sculls (M1x), while the Men’s pair won a bronze medal.
The Women's four (Sarah Marshall, Phoebe Snowden, Zoe McCutcheon, and Holly Youd) set the tone for the British success, winning the gold medal in the Women's four event. Leading from the start, they finished over three seconds ahead of Germany. The Women's eight (coached by Alex Leigh) also won gold, leading from the start and winning over Netherlands. The Men's eight (M8+) won gold in a close race against Poland and Netherlands, with a lead from the 1km mark.
The GB Men's pair (Toby Lassen and Felix Rawlinson) and the Women's pair (Angharad Broughton and Lauren Carey) finished in fifth place, while Zara Povey finished fifth in the Women's single sculls (W1x) and Rebekah Court and Rachel Bradley finished fourth in the Women's double sculls (W2x).
Josh Knight's silver medal in the Men's single sculls was a testament to his hard work and dedication. Lead Coach Dan Harris praised the team's performance, stating that it was an awesome achievement to finish fifth or higher in a field of multiple Olympians and senior internationals.
The World University Games is a multi-sport event with over 10,000 students from 150 countries competing in the Rhine-Ruhr valley in Germany. Japan led the overall Games medal table with 79 medals, including 34 golds, but Great Britain was the leader in rowing medals specifically.
In summary, the British student rowers excelled at the 2025 FISU World University Games, winning five medals (three gold, one silver, and one bronze), leading the rowing medal standings and showing wide medal distribution across the team. This impressive performance is a testament to the strength and depth of university rowing in Great Britain.
Rowing news continues to highlight Great Britain's dominance in university rowing, with their rowing development pathway producing a diverse team that shone at the 2025 FISU World University Games. The team, with a mix of seasoned athletes and newcomers, brought home five medals, making sports history as the leading rowing nation.
