"Nikita Jacobs highlights the astonishing accomplishments that result from collective ambition within the U23 tier"
British Coxswain Leads GB Women's Eight to Gold at U23 World Rowing Championships
Nikita Jacobs, a sophomore at the University of Washington, made his international debut as the coxswain for the GB Rowing Team's women's eight at the 2025 U23 World Rowing Championships in Poznan. Jacobs, who had previously coxed mostly men's boats, successfully led the crew to a gold medal, marking his first time coxing women's crews at a high level.
Jacobs' journey to Poznan began at the University of Washington, where he spent the past year studying and rowing with the women's rowing team. The University of Washington is currently experiencing a "golden era" of rowing, with an amazing coaching staff, athletes, and team culture.
In Poznan, the GB Women's Eight boat was in control of the race from stroke one, holding off the Americans towards the end. The one-kilometre marker was a crucial point in the race where the GB Women's Eight boat knew the Americans were going to charge hard, and they responded well. At 1250 meters, the GB Women's Eight boat realized they were out in front and it was their race to lose.
The Women's Eight boat for GB Rowing Team included three returning rowers from the previous year's victorious outfit. The team's preparations for the championships included training camps at Caversham and Marlow, which Jacobs attended after his return to the U.K. before taking on the Henley Royal Regatta.
Jacobs' selection for the Women's Eight boat came after the final selection following the Henley Royal Regatta. His time with the GB Women's Eight boat has been a learning experience, where he has learned about the differences in motivating women and the technical aspects of coxing a women's crew.
Jacobs' performance in Poznan was not his only achievement this year. His crewmate, Cameron Tasker, came agonizingly close to a gold medal at the IRAs, falling to Harvard by 0.03s in the Grand Final of the Third Varsity Eight.
Despite his success in Poznan, Jacobs is planning to complete his four years at the University of Washington before potentially returning to the UK. His time at the university has been a valuable experience, and he has learned about how quickly you can pull together a world-class crew during this campaign.
GB Rowing Team won four gold medals at Poznan, topping the medal table for the second year in a row. Seven out of the eight rowers in the 2025 British Eight had won a gold medal at either U23 or U19s. The Women's Rowing programme at the University of Washington, led by Yaz Farooq, is one of the finest in the United States.
In a rebuilding year after a tough end to the 2024 season, Jacobs has proven himself to be an asset to the GB Rowing Team, leading the Women's Eight boat to a successful defense of the U23 title. His debut at the international level was a resounding success, and he will undoubtedly continue to make a significant impact in the world of rowing.
During the 2025 U23 World Rowing Championships, Jacobs, the coxswain for the GB Rowing Team's women's eight, demonstrated his expertise in sports by leading the crew to a gold medal, marking his first time coaching a women's crew at such a high level. In preparation for the championships, Jacobs underwent training camps at Caversham and Marlow, which honed his coaching skills for rowing.
