Kathleen Noble, the Ugandan-Irish athlete who made history as the first Ugandan to compete in Olympic rowing, has announced her retirement from the sport after the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The 29-year-old revealed her decision after securing a spot in the finals last Friday with a second-place finish in the semi-final E/F 2 in the women’s single sculls. In the last edition of the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, she secured a 2nd place finish in the women’s single sculls Final E.
Noble, who has represented Uganda in numerous international competitions, expressed her desire to move on to a new chapter in her life.
She further emphasized the need to grow the sport in Uganda to produce future Olympic stars.
“We need to create a vibrant rowing community in Uganda before trying to compete on the world stage,” she said.
Who is Kathleen Noble?
She was born in Kiwoko Hospital, in the present-day Nakaseke District to Gerry Noble, a doctor, and Moira Noble, a teacher who had come to Uganda as a missionary.
Noble attended the then Kabira International School (now Kampala International School) between 1999 and 2004. She later joined the International School of Uganda for secondary school in 2004, leaving in 2013. She then joined Princeton University in 2014 and graduated with a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. A biologist by profession, Noble is currently based in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States of America (USA).
She is multitalented, having represented Uganda at the Swimming World Championship (2012), and also played competitive volleyball, squash, badminton, and basketball.
Noble’s maiden rowing championship for Uganda was during the 2016 World Rowing U-23 event held in Rotterdam, Holland.
After graduating from university, she moved to Utah where she worked as a wilderness therapy field instructor, working with youth in the desert teaching survival and communication skills, and resumed training with the Utah Crew under Coach Linda Iqbal.
We wish you the best in Paris, Uganda will be cheering for Kathleen Noble.
