Bermudian Shelley Pearson has become part of British sporting history having earned a place on the Oxford University team for the Newton Women’s Boat Race.

The 23-year-old, who is the daughter of Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby legend Kevin Pearson, will row in the third position for the Dark Blues, but what has made this year’s edition of the storied race extra special is that the women will not only row on the same course as the men but on the same day as well.

The internationally televised race is due to take place on April 11 and the young sportswoman is already attracting attention from national and regional media in Britain.

Ms Pearson’s pedigree includes winning the Ivy Championships as a junior at Radcliffe at Harvard College in Massachusetts and the US National Championships multiple times while in high school.

She also helped the United States eight to a gold medal at the 2009 Junior World Championships in France.