3 mins
Imogen Grant
Nationality
British
Height
168cm
Club
CUBC
Undergraduate course
Medicine
Cambridge college
Trinity
Why are you studying your course?
I decided I wanted to study medicine at the age of 9. I find the human body fascinating, and medicine allows you to help so many people.
What is the most interesting part of your course?
As a medical student, you are often in an incredibly privileged position of sharing in pivotal moments in other peoples’ lives. Recently, I completed my obstetrics rotation, which included assisting in a caesarean, delivering a new baby.
Year you first started rowing
2014
First rowing club
First and Third Trinity Boat Club
Why/how did you get into rowing?
I signed up for a taster session during fresher’s week to get two free drinks. I nearly didn’t go to the taster session, but I did and rapidly fell in love with the sport.
Name of first rowing coach
Neil Talbott
Who is your rowing idol?
My teammates inspire and motivate me every day.
How do you balance rowing and academic life?
If you want something enough, you find a way to make it work.
Have you ever been at school/university/on a team with anyone at ‘the other place’?
Yes, in fact I raced my first European championships with Ellie Piggott, an Oxford Blue.
What is your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far?
I made my senior GB rowing team debut at the first world cup of the year in 2018, going on to become world U23 champion the same year. My first international success came in the CUWBC eight that took gold at the 2015 European Universities Rowing Championships. In 2016, I rowed in the CUWBC lightweight eight and reserve boat before moving up to the Blue Boat for both the 2017 and 2018 women’s Boat Races, won by Cambridge. In 2017 I competed in the lightweight women’s quad at the World Rowing U23 championships in Plovdiv, finishing fifth. Later in 2018 I was selected to row the lightweight single scull at the first world cup of the year in Belgrade, finishing in fourth place. I rowed in the same boat class at the World Rowing U23 championships in Poznan and won gold. I partnered Ellie Piggott in the lightweight double at the 2019 European championships and second world cup, finishing 4th and 8th respectively. I won a gold medal in the lightweight single sculls at the third world cup of the season, and a world championship bronze with Emily Craig in the lightweight double. At the Tokyo Olympics Emily and I finished 4th in the lightweight double.
Have you raced in the Boat Race before? If yes, when?
Yes, I raced the Lightweight Boat Race and the Blondie-Osiris Race in 2016, then raced in the Blue Boat in 2017 and 2018.
Your favourite race so far?
2019 world championships final. We were barely in the race but managed to nab a bronze medal on the line after being a crew for just 6 weeks.
What is the best place you have ever rowed?
Varese
What is your favourite sports quote?
“All it takes is all you’ve got.”
How does being an athlete make you a better person?
So much of the learning about culture, teamwork, goal setting, and managing stress are directly important in my work as a doctor. Those skills I learned through rowing mean that around the hospital I can achieve more.
Do you think you can win the Boat Race? Why?
I’ve done it twice before. Why not again?
Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing?
I bake, I read, I draw, I play video games, I cycle, ski, climb, sail and swim. I love variety!