Olympic Champion and Five Cambridge Rowers Barred from 2025 Boat Race Over Eligibility Rules

The 12-year eligibility rule introduced in 2021 has sidelined six Cambridge athletes, reigniting debates about fairness and the Boat Race’s amateur ethos.

Tom Ford, Olympic gold medalist and Cambridge postgraduate, has been ruled ineligible for the 2025 Boat Race under a rule barring athletes more than 12 years after starting their undergraduate degrees.
Five additional Cambridge rowers, including three postgraduate teacher trainees and two team presidents, have also been deemed ineligible under the same regulation.
The eligibility rule, introduced in 2021, was designed to address concerns about elite athletes competing, following James Cracknell’s participation in 2019.
Cambridge has reportedly sought legal advice, alleging the rule may be discriminatory and disproportionately impacts their athletes compared to Oxford’s.
The Boat Race Company has expressed sympathy for the affected athletes but emphasized the importance of adhering to the agreed eligibility rules.