Five Cambridge athletes were in action at the World Rowing Championships held on 18–25 September in Racice, Czech Republic. The event marked the pinnacle of the season for the world’s top rowers.

Competing at the tournament were Cambridge University Boat Club’s Ollie Wynne-Griffith and Tom George (GB Men’s Pair); Grace Prendergast (New Zealand Women’s Pair); Imogen Grant (GB Lightweight Women’s Double’s Sculls) and Freddie Davidson (GB Men’s Four).

The tournament kicked-off with the heats. Making statement victories, all five Cambridge rowers led their heats through each and every one of their four 500m intervals to claim first place.

The semi-finals brought fiercer competition and nail-biting entertainment. Against tougher opposition, Cambridge’s Olympic rowers, MPhil student Grace Prendergast and medic Imogen Grant, continued their dominance. They cruised to respective victories, leading their races through all four quarters.

Alumnus Freddie Davidson came under early pressure in his semi-final, trailing Australia in the early stages. However, unfazed, the crew delivered a strong second-half to edge a dramatic victory. Even finer margins decided the semi-final of Business student Ollie Wynne-Griffith and alumnus Tom George. Despite GB’s lively start, Romania led at halfway. Undeterred, Wynne-Griffith and George came back over the second-half to claim victory by just half-a-second.

Flawless thus far, expectations were high for all five athletes as they entered the finals. Grant faced her toughest challenge yet, having to reckon with four pairs who competed at the Tokyo Olympics. Alongside teammate Emily Craig, Grant was electric from the outset and quickly developed a commanding lead. Opponents’ hopes of a comeback were left unfulfilled. Ruthless and unrelenting, the duo kept their feet on the gas (or rather, hands on the oars) to power their way to gold.

Re-matched with Australia, Davidson and the GB Men’s Four faced another trying test. Opting to conserve their energy, the crew trailed Romania and Australia through 500m. Then, as their opposition boats tired, GB pounced. By 1,000m they had left Romania in their wake and were bearing down on Australia. Unwavering, GB stepped up the tempo once more to claim the lead within another 500m. Showing great composure, they weathered a final Australian sprint to secure World Championship glory.

Prendergast, as yet relatively unchallenged, came under early pressure in the final, outpaced by GB through 500m. However, whilst GB failed to maintain their early speed, the New Zealand pair went from strength to strength. Finding their rhythm, they surged towards gold in an utterly dominant display.

Much to their disappointment, Wynne-Griffith and George were unable to repeat their semi-final triumph. Starting sluggishly, the duo struggled to gain a foothold in the race. As Romania and Spain consolidated the gold and silver positions respectively, GB were left to battle for bronze. Trailing Serbia at 1,500m, a determined sprint-finish earned the Brits a spot on the podium.

With a haul of three golds and two bronzes, it was an unforgettable World Rowing Championships for Cambridge University’s rowers.