Imogen Grant: Novice to World Stage at Cambridge University


Imogen Grant, who took up rowing with her College Boat Club at Cambridge University in October 2014, finished 4th in the Lightweight Women’s Single Scull at the World Cup last weekend, just 0.4 seconds behind bronze place.

Imogen learned to row for her College (Trinity College who row as First and Third Trinity Boat Club) having been lured in by the offer of a free drink if you attended taster sessions. She has been a loyal supporter of the College Boat Club ever since, competing in many Bumps crews over the years.

Imogen racing 2016 May Bumps with First and Third Trinity Boat Club

Having joined the CUWBC Development Squad soon after taking up the sport, Imogen was part of eight that won Gold in the Women’s Beginner Eight at the 2015 BUCS Regatta. Later that year, she was part of the CUWBC Women’s Eight that won Gold at the 2015 European Universities Rowing Championships in Germany.

Imogen has since raced in the CUWBC Lightweight Eight (2016), CUWBC Reserve Boat (2016) and won with the Blue Boat in both 2017 and 2018.

Imogen celebrating a win in the 2018 Women’s Boat Race. Photo © Getty Images

In 2017, Imogen raced in the GB Lightweight Women’s Quad at the World Rowing U23 Championships and after impressing at this year’s GB Rowing Team Assessments, she was selected to race with the Senior Team at the first World Cup in Belgrade, along with CUWBC Chief Coach Rob Baker.

There were 15 entries in Imogen’s event (Lightweight Women’s Single) and by improving her performance in every race, she confirmed her place in the top 6 racing in the “A final” where she finished in a very impressive 4th position, less than half a second out of the medals.

Speaking on her racing, Imogen said:

“I had a jittery start to the regatta, nervous about my first senior race, but every race I was able to alter and improve my rowing. Each time I took to the water I think I learnt something new, and nearly took a medal! The purpose of the regatta was experience, and it has left me even more excited and motivated for the rest of the season”

Imogen racing at the World Cup in Belgrade. Photo © Naomi Baker/British Rowing

Grant is in her fourth year of medicine, which means clinical school, so the demands on her time are even greater. And getting the balance of sport and academia is even more difficult.

“Rob is really great,” she said. “I have been at CUWBC for three years now so I’ve got a really good relationship with him as a coach and he understands very much what I need to do in terms of the medical side of things to get things done so he can be flexible with me as well.”