King’s Worcester student Alice Baker is celebrating this week after she and her crewmates brought home Gold for Great Britain at the International Junior Regatta held in Munich last weekend.

Baker and her three crewmates competed in the Under 19 Women’s Four 2000m at the competition.

The GB boat finished in a very close second place during the heats, which qualified them for the final later that day.

The girls rowed superbly and won the final race, beating five other top-class European teams.

This was Baker’s first race for Great Britain after international racing was put on hold throughout the pandemic.

Baker was in a state of disbelief after the event and explained how demanding the challenge was.

“I really can’t believe it; it’s still only sinking in,” she said.

“It was a very tough challenge and one of the toughest and most nerve-wracking experiences I’ve had to endure.

“The other European teams were simply incredible, but we pulled together for the final and gave it our all.

“Competing for Great Britain has always been a goal of mine, and I’m grateful that all the time spent training over the past few years has paid off.

“I learnt a lot over the weekend which I can take forward into summer racing, hopefully for both the school and GB.”

“My passion for rowing started here at King’s and I’ve been so fortunate to receive incredible support and coaching from both the King’s Boat Club, the wider King’s rowing community and the incredible GB junior rowing team.”

Jim Chalmers, Head of Rowing at King’s said of Baker’s win, “We watched the racing in the Michael Baker Boathouse on Saturday and the coaches and rowers were so delighted to see Alice racing on the international stage.

“To win the gold medal was absolutely brilliant and the result of such hard work and incredible talent.

“She is such a wonderful ambassador for the sport and School and to us a superstar.”

Headmaster, Mr Doodes also praised Baker’s phenomenal achievement adding, “The entire community is so proud of Alice.

“She has been unfaltering in her ambition to row for Great Britain, and this, combined with a full scholarship to Stanford, demonstrates what a pupil at King’s can achieve.

I am also grateful to her coaches and staff who have supported her in her journey.”