The 2026 summer of sport | “This is the Wimbledon of rowing tournaments”
It is summer, which means the season of major sporting events is once again in full swing. UvA students are taking part in many of them too. What is at stake? That is the focus of Folia’s six-part series The 2026 Summer of Sport. This week: UvA student Loïs Hoexum (23) is competing with her rowing club, A.A.S.R. Skøll, at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta.
The Henley Royal Regatta is one of the oldest and most prestigious rowing competitions in the world. What’s it like to take part?
“It’s incredibly exciting. You have to think of Henley as the Wimbledon of rowing tournaments. When you start rowing, competing here is something you dream of one day achieving. For rowing clubs, it’s a huge deal to race at Henley, this is what you train for all season. Now that I’m actually here, I find myself thinking: I’ve come quite a long way, really.”
Sport: Rowing
Degree programme: Law and Political Science
Rowing since: Age 18
Competing in: The Henley Royal Regatta, 30 June – 5 July 2026, Henley-on-Thames (England)
What’s the atmosphere like there at the moment?
“People are walking around here quite dressed up, in dresses, hats and blazers from their own clubs. The fact that there are such specific dress codes can be called old-fashioned, for example, women are only allowed to wear long dresses, but it also creates a nice atmosphere. That whole posh, hierarchical feel actually doesn’t suit me at all, but once a year I do enjoy putting on a dress like this.”
“You can also tell that something big is happening here. It’s extremely busy, really a major event. There are huge numbers of spectators, and you can feel that everyone is working towards a peak moment.”
How did you get into rowing?
“I ended up at Skøll when I was eighteen because a friend from secondary school was a member and used to tell great stories about it. Funny enough, she left quite soon afterwards, but I stayed.”
What is your strength as a rower?
“I work hard and I’m very disciplined. I want to get everything out of myself and I’m willing to go very far for that. I also love being in bed by 9 o’clock, eating healthy, not drinking alcohol and not going to parties. I make lots of small decisions like that which allow me to row at this level.”
What’s at stake this week?
“We are one of the favourites, which is really exciting. We are going all in for the win and I think we have a pretty good chance. That does bring some pressure, but that’s also what you do it for. How lucky are we that we get to feel nervous about a race? I’m grateful that I’m allowed to be anxious about this.”
Do you have any further ambitions within rowing?
“I hope to be able to compete in international tournaments for a long time and to work my way into the national team. I really enjoy the lifestyle that comes with competing at the highest level, so I hope that one day I can turn my hobby into my job.”
Is rowing at this level actually compatible with two degrees?
“I do fall a bit behind, but I don’t really mind that. Sometimes it’s hard work, but so far it’s going well. Recently I missed an exam because I was at a rowing competition, and the resit is taking place this week. Luckily, the examination board has allowed me a third attempt in August. It’s sometimes a bit of juggling, but in the end it works out.”
