"U23's collective focus on a single aspiration leads to remarkable accomplishments, according to Nikita Jacobs"
Nikita Jacobs, a sophomore at the University of Washington and former coxswain for Radley College Boat Club in the UK, led the GB Rowing Team's Women's Eight to a gold medal victory at the U23 World Championships in Poznan.
Jacobs made his GB debut at the U23 level in 2025, stepping into the coxswain role for the Women's Eight, which successfully defended its title from the previous year. Despite it being his first time coxing women and wearing the GB red and white hoops, his leadership helped the crew maintain a clear lead throughout the race, securing gold again for Great Britain.
The Women's Eight boat was a formidable force, with three returning athletes and a new coxswain in Jacobs. One of the rowers, Jess, is also a student at the University of Washington. The boat was led by Yaz Farooq, a former cox for the first U.S. Women's Eight to win the World Rowing Championships.
The GB Rowing Team's Women's Eight clocked the fastest time in the heats and led every marker in their opening round of racing. However, they faced a challenge from the Americans in the second half of the final race. The team's determination and skill shone through, as they held on to their lead and secured the gold medal.
This victory was part of a successful campaign for the GB Rowing Team, as they won four gold medals at Poznan, topping the medal table for the second year in a row. The Women's Eight was not the only GB crew to excel at the championships. Cameron Tasker, a crewmate of Jacobs, stroked the Men's Eight that went to Poznan and dominated. However, Tasker came agonizingly close to a gold medal at the IRAs.
Jacobs had a self-described rebuilding year after a tough end to the 2024 season. He balanced rowing commitments between the UK and the US, after the IRA and NCAA championships in the US rowing season, he returned for GB training camps at Caversham and Marlow, before competing at Henley Royal Regatta and subsequent GB selection events.
Despite his success at the U23 level, Jacobs is committed to completing his four years at the University of Washington and plans to return to the UK after that. He has already gained valuable experience from his time at the university and is eager to continue learning and growing as a coxswain.
In summary, Nikita Jacobs is an up-and-coming British coxswain with strong international success at the U23 level, combining experience from UK schools and collegiate rowing in the USA, specifically the University of Washington, where he has completed two years of study and rowing. The GB Rowing Team's Women's Eight, led by Jacobs, was a dominant force at the U23 World Championships, securing gold for Great Britain and continuing the team's streak of success at international competitions.
Despite his success in rowing, Jacobs expresses a keen interest in basketball and dreams of becoming an NBA coach one day. In his free time, he enjoys watching NBA games and studying tactics used by world-class coaching staff.
