Ugandan Olympian Kathleen Noble set a new personal best and national record of 7:51.37 in the women’s 2,000m rowing event, marking her first race over the Olympic distance since competing at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
Noble competed under Penn AC, a high-performance rowing club based in Pennsylvania, USA.
She delivered an outstanding performance that continues to underline her place among Africa’s leading rowing athletes.
Her latest achievement reflects not only elite athletic performance, but also the power of consistency, discipline and long-term commitment to personal growth.
Following two Olympic cycles, Kathleen has continued to push herself, enjoy the process and prioritize both performance and mental well-being while remaining at a world-class standard.
“This achievement speaks volumes,” said Batenga Nakisozi, secretary general of Uganda Rowing and Head Coach at Maroons Aqua Sports Club.
“Kathleen continues to demonstrate what is possible through consistency, humility and discipline. She continues to inspire a new generation of Ugandan athletes by showing that excellence is built over time through daily commitment to the process.” She added.
Kathleen made history as Uganda’s first female Olympic rower at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games before representing the country again at the Paris Olympic Games.
Her continued growth and longevity in the sport remain a major inspiration for Uganda’s rowing community and the wider Olympic movement in the country.
Uganda Rowing also recognizes the important role played by clubs and high-performance training environments in athlete development.
Within Uganda, clubs such as Maroons Aqua Sports Club continue to contribute to the growth of rowing by supporting athlete development pathways and helping nurture the next generation of rowers.
