From Freshers' Week Rowing Tasters to the World Championships: Erin Kennedy MBE

Since leaving Pembroke, alumna Erin Kennedy MBE (2011, History and English) has become Paralympic Champion, two-time World Champion, European Champion and a World Record Holder. This summer, whilst receiving treatment for breast cancer, her team won gold at the European Rowing Championships in Munich.

We asked Erin to share what her time at Pembroke means to her and some advice for current students:

"I studied History and English at Pembroke and spent a lot of my time down at the Boathouse and on the river. It is fair to say that my experience at Pembroke truly changed my life, as I first sat in a boat with PCBC during Freshers week and now I am a full time, professional coxswain.

At Pembroke, I had incredible friends in College but the Boat Club was great as I befriended students from other years and graduate courses I would never have met otherwise. My time with OUWBC also gave me some incredible experiences, introduced me to fantastic people and enabled me to win a Blue. After graduating, I began working full-time for an education not-for-profit but also began rowing full-time for Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames… how I managed that I don’t quite know as both required about 35 hours a week of my time!

In 2016 I was invited to join the GB Rowing Team and in 2018, I won my first World Championships. To date, I have won the Paralympic Games and I am a two-time World Champion, two-time European Champion and a World Record Holder. I was also awarded an MBE for Services to Rowing in the 2022 New Year Honours List. Crazy to think that it is all thanks to giving rowing a go during Fresher’s week!

Looking back on my experience at Pembroke, I would encourage students to try new things and enjoy everything that Oxford has to offer – you don’t realise how rare it is to have all these opportunities on your doorstep until you have graduated. Also, not to worry too much about “what you’re going to do when you graduate”, chose something you enjoy and use it as a starting point to figure it out as you go!"