Twin sisters, both pursuing Ph Ds at Oxford and Cambridge, will compete on opposite sides for the first time in the 2024 Boat Race.
Catherine and Gemma King, 24, have been rowing together since they were 12 and have raced for Cambridge’s Gemini Boat since 2018.
But this year, they’ll be wearing different colours during the 78th women’s race on March 30 after Catherine started her Ph D at Oxford while Gemma stayed at Cambridge for hers.
“We are both very competitive and we obviously want to win, but at the end of the day the Boat Race is so much more than who wins or who loses,” Gemma, a stem cell biology student, said.
“No matter what happens, I’m going to be really proud to be racing for Cambridge and proud of Catherine for racing for Oxford – but obviously we’d like to win.
“We all train so hard all year, so to see that hard work pay off is really special.”
Catherine and Gemma King began rowing together at the age of 12. Credit: British Heart Foundation/PA
Catherine, who studies cardiovascular science, said: “I’m really looking forward to the Boat Race this year; it’s been an exciting time since I joined the Oxford team.
“The Boat Race is such an incredible event to be part of and I can’t wait to see how we do on race day.”
Although their teams will face off against each other, it’s likely they won’t actually row side by side – Gemma will be in Cambridge’s first boat while Catherine will row in Oxford’s second crew after taking some time off due to injury.
The twins come from Bagshot, Surrey. Their parents Mike and Liz King plan to cheer on both sides and might even wear gear featuring both Cambridge’s light blue and Oxford’s dark blue colours.
“They’ve joked about getting half-and-half hats but honestly that might become a thing,” Catherine said.
“They’ll definitely support us both and they come watch every race.”
The twin sisters, both studying for Ph Ds at Oxford and Cambridge, are set to face off in opposing teams for the very first time. Credit: British Heart Foundation/PA
The siblings started rowing when they were just 12 years old and say it has grown into a major part of their lives ever since.
“We got into rowing together and because we’re both pretty competitive individually as well as with each other, we pushed ourselves harder,” Catherine explained.
Gemma added: “We’re always straight with each other about what needs improving.
We’ve managed things people didn’t expect when we rowed together.”
This year The Boat Race Company Limited (BRCL) partnered with the British Heart Foundation as its official charity partner – which means a lot to Catherine whose Ph D is fully funded by them. She says it’s combined two things she loves most in life.””
The partnership feels especially meaningful following last year’s passing of former BRCL chair Tim Senior due to cardiac arrest.
For more info visit: bhf. org. uk/rowingchallenge.
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