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Carys Earl (Medicine 2021) is competing for Cambridge University Boat Club in the Women’s Boat Race on Saturday 4 April. 

Carys appeared in the first episode of the 2026 series of Turning the Tide, a preview of The Boat Races ()

She has also previously discussed her introduction to rowing at 91Ö±²¥ Boat Club; being a Boat Race triallist; and, how student support helps her academic and athletic pursuits.

Below, Carys discusses her thoughts a week prior to the race on The Tideway: 

Q: How are preparations going for the Boat Race and how excited are you about it?

A: We are now in our final stages of preparation for the upcoming Boat Race on April 4. We have done all the hard work and now making the final touches to find extra margins of speed in the last week. I am so excited for us to show the world what we can do come race day! It has been an incredible season and I am looking forward to competing alongside the whole squad.

Q: How pleased are you to be selected for the Blue boat once again, while balancing your clinical studies?

A: This will be my third time racing the Boat Race in the Cambridge Women's Blue boat and every year is just as special as the last. 

This year has been the most intense so far in my medical degree, attending full-time clinical placements in different hospitals across the east of England while also training twice a day, attending rowing camps and regularly competing locally and abroad. It is a huge honour to have been selected again for the Blue boat and was particularly rewarding for me this year to have been able to maintain performance without having to sacrifice my passion for medicine and surgery – it has made all the hard work and long days worth it!

Q: Cambridge have won the last eight Women's Boat Races. How conscious is the crew of this run and the challenge of extending it?

A: Cambridge has had a very successful record, winning the last eight Boat Races – which can bring us a lot of confidence in our training programme and race preparation. However, it does also come with extra pressure as no-one wants to be the crew to lose that winning streak. For us as athletes, every year is a new season with a new squad and so, although previous success can bring both confidence and challenges, it is an opportunity to race our own race and focus on what we can achieve as the current team. 

The Boat Races take place on Saturday 4 April:

The 80th Women’s Boat Race | 14:21 BST (GMT+1)

The 171st Men’s Boat Race | 15:21 BST (GMT+1)

Broadcast details: 

Television: The Boat Race 2026 will be broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 from 13:30-16:30 BST.

Times Radio will be broadcasting live from 13:00-16:00.

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