Camille VanderMeer, a 25-year-old American and MBA candidate at Cambridge University, has made waves in the traditionally male-dominated world of collegiate rowing in England. Having previously achieved success at Princeton as a three-time Ivy League Champion and two-time NCAA Medalist, as well as winning a gold medal at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in the women’s coxless four, VanderMeer sought new challenges at Cambridge, including competing in the historic Boat Race against Oxford. She trains seven days a week with the Cambridge team, balancing this intense schedule with her academic pursuits.
VanderMeer recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first woman to compete in the top 'open' boat for Peterhouse college in the annual May Bumps competition, where crews race to bump the boat ahead of them. She was also the only woman in the first division, competing for the coveted Head of the River title. Peterhouse O1, spearheaded by VanderMeer in the stroke seat, secured the Head of the River title for the first time in the college's history, a victory she described as "super exciting for the college."
Her participation highlighted the physical differences between men's and women's rowing, with VanderMeer acknowledging a 50-second difference in world records for a 2,000m ergometer time. Despite this, she noted, "I came eighth and another woman came ninth. I think it’s cool to be able to prove that women belong in the conversation." Her success at May Bumps adds to a winning streak for Cambridge rowing, particularly the women's team, which has seen eight consecutive wins in the Boat Race. VanderMeer is now focused on the upcoming Boat Race, a 6.8-kilometer course on the notoriously challenging River Thames, a stark contrast to her prior flat-water racing experience, as she aims to contribute to Cambridge's continued dominance.
