GB rowing icon Helen Glover eyeing remarkable Paris Olympics spot after U-turn
It seems that coming out of retirement to compete in one more Olympics simply isn't enough for Team GB icon Helen Glover.
The 36-year-old, who won gold medals alongside Heather Stanning in both London 2012 and Rio 2016, retired after glory in Brazil in order to focus on having a family. But in 2021 she stunned everyone by returning to rowing, and made a late charge for the delayed Tokyo Olympics, finishing fourth with Polly Swann and becoming the first mum to row for Team GB.
A second retirement duly followed, but barely lasted a year before Glover - who now has three children - competed in the World Rowing Coastal Championships in Wales, taking silver in the women's solo class. And now she has Paris 2024 firmly in her sights, citing a desire to inspire other mothers in professional sport.
"When I stepped away from Tokyo, I was really proud of the fact that I'd done it, but when I looked back I wondered what had changed for the next person," Glover told PA news. "I felt that without pushing the boundary further, wanting more and asking more of myself as an athlete, nothing else was going to happen.
"I feel like we're at a prime time for mothers in sport. There are so many mothers across British sport, not just coming back, but excelling and being better than they have ever been. I've always believed that I'm the best mum I can be when I've also got something exciting and challenging outside parenthood."
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Glover, who also said that as "long as the work-life balance" is right, also revealed that husband Steve Backshall had been instrumental in her second return. TV presenter Backshall, 49, is best known for his role in the BBC's Deadly 60 series.
Helen Glover (left) and Heather Stanning celebrate their gold medal win at London 2012 (PA)"The decision-making was almost entirely down to my husband's encouragement," added the triple world champion. "I never intended to come back and I never actively put anything in place with the intention of keeping going.
"After Tokyo I stepped away, but in the summer I started doing some beach sprint rowing and I was enjoying that challenge. When that came to end, Steve suggested I do the trials and it was almost surprising how welcome those words were to me."
Glover will now have to perform in two European events and two World Cups before heading to Belgrade for the World Championships in September. The events will serve as Great Britain selection races.
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