The one lesson I’ve learned from life
Olympian Helen Glover
ROWER Helen Glover MBE, 30, won gold medals at the london and Rio olympics. She lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband, TV presenter Steve Backshall.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHANGE YOUR DREAMS
I was 22 when I started rowing — and I knew it was my last shot at making it in elite sport. Most successful athletes start their careers around the age of 16.
I remember at school a teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we were older and I wanted to say ‘an Olympian’ but didn’t dare. It was always my dream, but I felt I was far too average to achieve something like that.
I was always incredibly sporty — I ran cross-country and middle-distance track for England and was in the England satellite squad for hockey. But I kept having missed chances, like when I was in the England running team as a teenager, I got glandular fever and missed out on the team the next year.
Then, in 2008, my mum spotted an advert for sporting Giants, a scheme launched by sir steve Redgrave to find people who might have talent in sports such as rowing and volleyball.
There were 4,800 applicants and a minimum height requirement of 5ft 11in. I’m 5ft 9in so I stood on tiptoes when they measured me.
Rowing was never on my radar but I kept getting through each round. whether I liked the sport or not didn’t come into it — I kept thinking, ‘If this is the way I’m going to get to compete in the Olympics, I’ll do all I can’.
It was decided that I’d go into a pair and I was partnered with Heather stanning. It was a lucky stroke — we became very close and I always wanted to win as much for her as for myself.
If I hadn’t taken up rowing I would never have met my husband, steve. we were introduced at a sport Relief event in 2014.
There are so many times in life when I’ve heard people say: ‘Oh, I’d love to do that, but I think I’ve missed the boat.’ My experience has taught me that on most occasions, you haven’t.
Helen and Steve Backshall are raising funds to protect the Borneo rainforest: Go to worldlandtrust.org/fundraising/ backshall-saving-kinabatangan