Annie Anezakis, women's president of the Oxford University Boat Club, has made it clear that she will do whatever it takes to beat Cambridge in the 79th Women's Boat Race.
The Australian rower, who has captured attention both on and off the water for her striking looks and athletic prowess, recently featured in a promotional video posted by the official Boat Race social media team.
In it, she made her intentions crystal clear ahead of this weekend's event: 'I will sell my soul to the devil to win this race.'
The bold declaration turned heads online.
But the 168cm-tall medic, currently studying at Oxford's Pembroke College, is no stranger to stunning social media users.
She regularly wows her followers on Instagram with sun-soaked holiday pics, as well as plenty of behind-the-scenes training shots from her intense rowing schedule.
Now in her second year of Graduate Entry Medicine, the 26-year-old has already rowed in two Blue Boats, in 2022 and 2024, and is now relishing the chance to lead her team in what promises to be a fierce battle on the Thames.
Annie, who first picked up an oar at St Catherine's School in Melbourne back in 2012, says she thrives on the competitive edge rowing demands.
'My favourite part of rowing is racing,' she says on her Boat Race profile.
'And the daily challenge of doing everything I can to put myself and my teammates in the best possible position on race day.'
She credits Australian Olympic legends like Stephanie Rice and Libby Trickett as her earliest sporting inspirations, after watching them shine at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Despite juggling the demands of elite sport and a medical degree, Anezakis insists it's all worth it.
'Being a part of the Boat Race squad definitely makes student life a bit more challenging,' she admitted.
'But it is entirely worth it for the lifelong friendships and memories you make along the way.'
If she hadn't fallen in love with rowing, she believes she could have excelled in a different aquatic sport: 'Water polo.'
The 2025 Boat Race takes place today (Sunday April 13) with the women's showdown underway at 1.21pm on the Thames.
It will be the 79th edition of the Women's Boat Race and the 170th time the men's crews have gone head to head. Both fixtures are steeped in history and fierce rivalry.
Cambridge currently lead both series: 48-30 in the women's race and 87-81 in the men's, though Oxford will be hoping to close the gap with a strong showing this year.
The event spans 4.25 miles of the tidal Thames, from Putney to Mortlake, with the crews battling not just each other but the unpredictable river conditions.
The build-up to this year's race hasn't been without controversy. Oxford lodged a formal complaint over the eligibility of several Cambridge men's rowers, including Olympic gold medallist Tom Ford, claiming their university enrolments began too long ago. In total, six Cambridge athletes were challenged, with tensions boiling over in what insiders have described as an increasingly 'toxic' rivalry.
But it's not all bad blood. A cherished tradition will return this year as organisers give the green light for the winning cox to be thrown into the Thames. The celebration had been scrapped last year due to poor water quality.
A new £5billion 'super sewer' system has since dramatically reduced pollution in the river, making the waters just safe enough for a celebratory splash.
More than 250,000 spectators are expected to line the banks of the Thames, with millions more tuning in worldwide via BBC One and international broadcasters including ESPN+, SuperSport, and the Olympic Channel.
Coverage begins from 12.45pm for those watching in the UK.
