KAREN BENNETT

medallist spent a The rowing eights silver visiting schools, lot of time after the Games herself. Now including those she attended the Great Britain back in winter training with on-Thames, she rowing squad in Henley- Edinburgh to visit regularly comes back to settled down into a her family. While life has be happy if she familiar pattern, she would from the public, as received more attention that Olympians she thinks that would show can inspire others. up and I would love people to come you doing?’, say ‘Oh, Karen, how are new people and because I love meeting people do know speaking to them. So if to come forward who I am, I do want them race on the telly’ or and say ‘I watched your that’s amazing’. ‘You went to the Olympics, say hi. I’d love Or even just to come and that. family But I do have a lot of friends, brothers, friends, my parents’ friends, in touch. And it’s kids, dogs – they all get support is there. really nice to know that as well to know I think it’s good for them it just makes somebody that’s done that, more exciting. watching the Olympics all the It’s been a bit crazy with – a good crazy, celebrations afterwards at training now. though. But we’re back after Rio, and We had a bit of down time which was nice. I went away on holiday, some time to go I also managed to fit in including round and visit some schools, primary school in my old high school and Edinburgh. and I I went to Balerno High School to do a talk went back there last month then I went back to with the firstyears, and It was 10 years do a prize-giving as well. and there were two since I left high school, and some ladies teachers I knew still there, really good to in the officeas well. It was and it was good have a catch-up with them, to know that for them to know me, and the school has somebody that’s been to done what I have. school, I went to my old primary to the whole Longstone, and did a talk And I’ve been to school, which was good. it’s been really other schools as well, so busy. people It’s really important to encourage and that’s why that anything is possible, to go back to I’ve always been willing that if you believe schools and clubs, to say not just in sport something it can happen, It’s really but if you’ve got a business. generation see important that the younger I can make that it is possible, and hopefully about my a difference when I tell them journey. going to be Winter training is probably were a couple tough, considering there much exercise. of weeks when I didn’t do we wake up in the And it’s really dark when rainy. But once you morning, and cold and that achievement win the medal and have it’s all worthwhile. I always say when One of the main things clubs is go out and I do a talk at schools or love. That can take enjoy it and do what you you anywhere.