Four-midable Glover
HELEN GLOVER has never wanted to be placed upon a pedestal. But the GB rowing star knows she will keep having conversations about motherhood and elite performance until her trailblazing path becomes the norm.
The 37-year-old is aiming for a fourth Olympics this summer as part of the women’s four team.
And a former obsessive over the minor details says she has “embraced imperfection” to set faster times in training than ever before.
Yesterday Glover was part of a quartet – alongside Esme Booth, Samantha Redgrave and Rebecca Shorten – who eased past Romania to win European championship gold in Hungary.
And by proving over and over that athletes can return to the top of their sports after giving birth, the mum of three understands why her story is such a source of inspiration.
Glover said at the launch of Natwest’s
Team Talk campaign: “I feel the same person as I always have been when I’m out there.
“For me that’s all about performance.
But every time I’m asked about being a mum, having a family and returning to sport, I know it’s really important to have these conversations.
“Until that time comes, until there are no glass ceilings not easy but Glover and her husband Steve Backshall make it work.
When Glover first appeared at an Olympics, in 2012, her approach was unashamedly selfish. Now her non-negotiable is to be there for school pick-up every day. Instead of life fitting around training, the training fits around life. So for Glover
to pursue another Olympics has meant not getting stressed by schedule changes.
“It has taken the pressure off, doing exciting things imperfectly,” she said. “I’ve learnt there’s more than one way of doing it.
“The times I’m doing right now, which are better than ever at 37 and with three kids, has made me think, ‘Hang on, maybe there’s something in this’.”
That is why she feels confident of adding to her medals, both gold, from London 12 years ago and Rio in 2016.
But it was the unusual, restrictive Tokyo environment that has motivated her to give it another shot in Paris.
After finishing fourth in the pairs, alongside Polly Swann, Glover did not announce retirement. Many assumed a year off meant the end but, she says, “I just left the options open.”
This time she is the senior figure of the four, a group who should be capable of finishing on the podium, but none of the other athletes have previous Olympic experience.
“There’s a responsibility that I welcome,” she added. “When I started I looked up at Olympians who had won medals and wanted them to tell me it all.”
Natwest, Official Banking Partner to Team GB, has launched their team Talk to inspire to the nation, designed to help get people going, whatever their goal. To find
out more visit www.natwest.com/
teamgb.html