Total command

Poland’s Magdalene Ladna charts her own course in first international rowing season.

Breaking barriers is never easy. For Magdalene Ladna, it was a simple choice. Serving as coxswain for the Polish men’s eight team on day one of rowing at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, on Friday, 25 July, Ladna helped steer her crew straight into the final, set for Sunday.

Uniquely, she is a woman leading a men’s team.

While rowing regulations allow women to cox men’s boats and vice versa, the reality is far less balanced. Ladna is just one of three females holding the position in her division.

“Six years ago, I had to quit dancing because of an injury and I was wandering around and I saw the men’s eight training,” she said.

“I was (thinking), ‘oh yeah, I like being in the cox.’ This position is really interesting and also, I’m not really strong. I liked the idea of shouting at big men and being their queen.”

Towering presence

In a nine-person crew, the coxswain sits facing forward at the bow, steering the boat and delivering real-time feedback to the rowers throughout the 2,000m stretch. 

Ladna is at least a foot shorter than her teammates in the seats, which is seen as an advantageous trait for coxswains. They need to be small and light to minimise drag.

But for the Polish native, commanding the boat requires more than size, it requires presence.

“(In the boat), I’m trying to be aggressive, but also confident in what I want to say, what I want them to do,” said the 20-year-old.

“I train my voice (and) I see a big difference in me (from) a year ago to now.

“Because I’m new in my team… I’ve been here for half a year and they (her Team Poland teammates) do train me, saying ‘oh, you should do this and do that’ and I’m listening, but I’m doing it in my (own) way.

“I’m trying my best to not have extra weight and it’s not really easy. I have to train my muscles, but I don’t have much time for this.”

An architecture student from Wroclaw University of Technology, Ladna made her international debut earlier this year at the European Championships in Bulgaria.

This experience gave her a clearer understanding of the importance of pre-race preparation before setting off into the water – in a hard-earned way.

“It (was) the worst start of my life, because I forgot my deadweight and we had to turn around. I just ran for it but it (ended up being) okay. But I will never make that mistake again.”

At the helm of greatness

At the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 competition on Friday, Team Poland trailed home in second behind powerhouse Great Britain to secure their spot in the men’s eight final.

“I wanted to (keep us) in the lanes and do my best but also keep them feeling safe with me. It’s (a) trial for us, we had to check ourselves because we have two new teammates, they are not long in training with us,” said Ladna. “So, it’s also a trial for them.”

Trial aside, Poland portrayed a united unit on the waters of Regattabahn Duisberg, all thanks to Ladna’s instructing orders pushing the team forward.

Off the water, her academic love for drawing as an architecture student surfaces a unique race-day routine.

“It’s a bit of a hobby and to stress less, doing something with myself because it was before the waiting. I actually enjoy drawing people.”

All 11 rowing finals will take place on Sunday, 27 July before the FISU Games closing ceremony. The men’s eight goes last at 2:04 p.m. CET.

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games take place from 16-27 July. Watch all the competitions live on fisu.tv. Click on the link to find the full schedule.

Written by Sophie Wisely, FISU Young Reporter, Australia

The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.