GB Students win five medals & top rowing medal table at 2025 FISU World University Games

July 27, 2025

Three gold, a silver and a bronze medal won on finals day in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany

Gold for the Women's and Men's eights

Great Britain has won five medals at the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, with twenty-one of the twenty-six selected athletes coming home with a medal. Gold medals came in the women’s four, the Men’s eight and Women’s eight. A silver was won by Josh Knight in the men’s single sculls and a bronze was won by the Men’s pair.

The rowing team comprised an exciting group of British student athletes from across the country, with a mix of seasoned international athletes, including World Cup athletes and U23 medallists and those earning international vests for the first time.

Lead Coach Dan Harris said: “It’s been a great day here in Germany with the whole team making A finals and finishing fifth or higher. It’s an awesome achievement, especially in a field of multiple Olympians and senior internationals.

“To top the medal table and see twenty one athletes come home with medals shows the strength and depth of the team, the GB Rowing development pathway and of university rowing in this country. Thanks also to the coaches and support staff for all their efforts in helping to deliver these outstanding performances.”

It was a confident gold medal win for the Women’s four (W4-) of Sarah Marshall, Phoebe Snowden, Zoe McCutcheon and Holly Youd. The four led from the start to take the win over three seconds ahead of Germany.

Women’s four celebrate double medal success

Coached by Alex Leigh, the students barely had time to recover, as they quickly joined Daisy Faithfull, Sophia Issberner, Tia Lenihan, Daisy Jackson and Beatrice Argyle to race the Women’s eight (W8+). They attacked the final, leading from the off to take the win ahead of Netherlands.

The GB Men’s eight (M8+) of Ed Ridley, Max Mills, Finn Mosedale, Ben Newton, Ben Brockway, Lucas Bowes, Sam Ford, Josh Burke and Zahir Ala closed out the days racing. Coached by Sam Sheppard, the race was close from the off, with the Netherlands ahead at the 500m, the GB crew pushed and surged ahead, keeping their bow in front from the 1km to take the gold ahead of Poland and the Netherlands.

It was a brilliant silver medal for Josh Knight in the Men’s single sculls (M1x). Coached by GB Rowing Team’s Tom Selby, Josh is a rising star on the GB Rowing Team Olympic Talent Pathway based at the Bath Performance Development Academy.

Josh Knight wins silver in the Men’s single sculls

Toby Lassen and Felix Rawlinson put in a solid, confident performance to bring home a bronze medal, behind Lithuania and Italy, in the Men’s pair (M2-). Coached by Dan Harris, the pair have continued to build confidence and experience throughout the event.

Men’s pair with coach Dan Harris

Rebekah Court and Rachel Bradley finished fourth in the Women’s double sculls (W2x), coached by Holly Young. Zara Povey finished in fifth place in the Women’s single sculls (W1x). Also finishing in fifth place were Angharad Broughton and Lauren Carey in the Women’s pair (W2-), who were coached by Zoe Taylor.

The World University Games is one of the biggest sporting events in the world with over 10,000 students from 150 countries competing at a multi-sport games across the Rhine-Ruhr valley in Germany.