The Tribune

GRAND Bahama student Sophie Paine is set to compete in the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race on Sunday, April 4.

As women’s president of the Cambridge University Boat Club, Paine will lead a team of eight rowers in the iconic boat race, which is reputedly watched by tens of millions from around the world.

The race has traditionally been rowed on the River Thames in London but this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, it will be a closed event to spectators which will be held on the river Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire. Television and media coverage will however be as strong as in previous years, and it is anticipated to be a close and exciting race.

Paine, who graduated from Lucaya International School, learned to row at Ivy League, Brown University, where she quickly progressed to rowing in the Varsity Eight with Ivy League Championship wins, and strong placement in the NCAA championships.

As a Bahamian and British citizen, she was picked to row for Great Britain in the Under-23 World Championship in 2019, bringing home the silver medal for the Women’s Eight. Paine is currently studying for a post-graduate degree at Cambridge University in sociology of media and culture and is the first Bahamian to row in the rowing event. In addition to her studies she has been following a rigorous training schedule in order to reach peak fitness for the race.

“I train with some of the smartest, strongest, and most ambitious girls I have ever known. Being part of such a long-standing history is also extremely inspiring,” said Paine.

This year marks the 75th year of the Women’s Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, with Cambridge having a healthy 44-30 lead over Oxford.