The Boat Race 2002

Oxford won the race by three-quarters of a length, one of the narrowest margins of victory in the history of the contest.

Cambridge's other international rowers included American Sam Brooks, German Sebastian Mayer and Australian Stu Welch.

[8] (P) – Boat Club President Cambridge won the coin toss and elected to start from the northern bank (the "Middlesex side") of the Thames.

[12] With a stroke rate of 51, Oxford took an early lead, but Cambridge pulled level as the crews passed Craven Cottage.

Taking a slight lead round the Surrey bend, Cambridge's number four, Mayer suffered an asthma attack and showed signs of struggle,[13] allowing Oxford to draw up to within a second as they approached Barnes Bridge.

[11] Mayer was hospitalised minutes after the race, initially considered a result of exhaustion, but later diagnosed as following an asthma attack.

"[16] Simon Barnes of The Times noted that "Cambridge reeled in an early Oxford lead and went ahead themselves ... that should have been the end of it...