Rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave slammed the ‘unsafe’ water conditions that Oxford and Cambridge will have to race in during Sunday’s Boat Race.
The annual spectacle between the two universities is one of British sport’s oldest traditions, with the first competition dating all the way back to 1829.
Cambridge has proved a dominant force in recent years, winning the last seven women’s races and five of the last six men’s races.
However, in recent years, the event has been overshadowed by growing concerns over the quality of the River Thames water.
Three members from Oxford’s 2024 team suffered from stomach bugs in the build-up to last year’s race, with rower Leonard Jenkins later suggesting his University’s losing effort was hampered by ‘so much poo in the water’.
Ahead of this year’s race, environmental charity River Action claims results from water-quality testing show levels of E. coli bacteria, found in faeces, are almost three times above the Environment Agency’s threshold for ‘poor’ bathing waters.
An E. coli infection can lead to diarrhoea, urinary tract infection, intestinal infection and vomiting, with the worst cases leading to life-threatening blood poisoning.
‘Competitors have been told to take precautions’
Due to concerns, race organisers have advised competitors to take additional measures on the day, with the tradition of throwing the winning cox into the water set to be abandoned again.
The Boat Race said in a statement: ‘Water quality is an ongoing concern for the Boat Race.
‘We have put in place a series of precautionary measures this year to protect the health of our athletes.
‘Which includes guidance regarding the covering up of open wounds, regular handwashing, a cleansing station at the finish area and highlighting the risks of entering the water.’
Redgrave, meanwhile, who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games between 1984 and 2000, urged more to be done to address the issue.
‘It’s a real worry that in 2025, unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern,’ the former rower said.
‘Rowers, river users, and the public deserve better.’
‘This is not just about rowing. It’s about all river users’ public health. It’s about our environment. It’s about the future of one of the world’s most iconic rivers.’
Flashbacks to the Paris Games
Similar concerns were seen during last summer’s triathlon at the Paris Olympics despite organisers spending over £1billion trying to clean up the River Seine.
The race was postponed on several occasions and, despite eventually going ahead, the conditions remained far from ideal with many athletes falling ill after racing in the polluted river.
Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen, who finished 24th in the women’s event, said the water ‘didn’t taste like Coke or Sprite’ and admitted she was aware of the risk of getting sick.
‘I drank a lot of water, so we’ll know tomorrow if I’m sick or not,’ she told TV channel VTM. ‘It doesn’t taste like Coca-Cola or Sprite, of course.
‘While swimming under the bridge, I felt and saw things that we shouldn’t think about too much.
‘The Seine has been dirty for a hundred years, so they can’t say that the safety of the athletes is a priority. That’s bulls***!’
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