Nuffield student part of Oxford Women’s Boat Race victory
Sarah Marshall, an MPhil-DPhil candidate in Economics at Nuffield College, was part of the University of Oxford crew that secured victory in the 2026 Women’s Boat Race, marking the Dark Blues’ first win since 2016.
Oxford took an early lead over Cambridge and held its advantage throughout the race, finishing three lengths ahead in difficult, windy conditions on the River Thames.
This was Marshall’s fourth time racing in the Boat Race and her first victory. She commented:
"It was a great day for the club to have the first win for Oxford Women since 2016. It was a wonderful culmination of all the hard work put in by the squad this year and in previous years. This was my fourth time racing the Boat Race, and it was amazing to celebrate the win with the crew and club."
The race was widely noted for its challenging conditions, with strong winds and choppy water testing both crews.
"This year's conditions were challenging! We knew that the wind was likely to pick up around the bend after Hammersmith Bridge and were prepared for the waves. Our coxswain did a great job putting us in the best water for us to race, and we were able to manage the conditions well," Sarah added.
Alongside her rowing, Marshall is pursuing research in theory and applied microeconomics at Nuffield, supervised by Alex Teytelboym. She is a recipient of the Oxford-Jerry Hausman Scholarship and previously completed a First Class degree in History and Economics at the University of Oxford.
She said:
"I have really enjoyed being able to be a part of this programme alongside my studies. The two complement each other well, and whilst it can be busy at times, it is a real privilege to have the opportunity to train for the Boat Race and events whilst also pursuing my academic and research interests."
To learn more about Sarah Marshall, visit her profile.