1 mins
Annie Anezakis
In the first week of preseason, with seven months stretching ahead of us, I told the team that Boat Race Day would arrive in the blink of an eye. At the time, it seemed distant – plenty of days, plenty of sessions. But balancing training and academic schedules makes time as a student athlete at Oxford move at an unforgiving pace. The weeks disappear, and suddenly, the countdown is over.
Part of the reason it has gone so fast is the people – the intensity of training has been matched by true camaraderie and friendship. With a tailored playlist for any situation, endless yapping and constant laughter, the season has been filled with many simple moments reminding us why we love this team and this sport. We have not only forged friendships that will last well beyond The Boat Race season, but also a special connection to the generations of Oxford women who came before us.
The women racing in Dark Blue this year embody relentless grit, unwavering determination, and fierce loyalty to their teammates in everything they do. Every challenge has been faced with extraordinary resilience, proving time and again that we emerge stronger and more unified with each test. We have built a culture that pushes our limits and sets our standards higher every day, allowing us to produce four highly competitive crews that will rise to any challenge on race day. This season’s progress wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of our incredible coaches, Allan, James and Zoe. We are beyond grateful for the endless hours you’ve poured into our team. To the athletes around me, I am so proud to stand by each of you in Dark Blue.
The season has passed in the blink of an eye, and we’ve made every day count. The Oxford women are ready to race.