Olympic rowing champion Glover motivated by children as she targets Tokyo
Helen Glover says the prospect of making her children proud is a key factor behind the decision to launch a comeback she hopes will end in a third Olympic appearance.
The Team GB legend, who won womenās coxless pairs gold alongside Heather Stanning in London and Rio, has returned to training with the GB Rowing squad just a year after giving birth to twins Bo and Kit, while Gloverās eldest son Logan was born in July 2018.
Should she make it to Tokyo, the 34-year-old would become the first British female rower to compete at an Olympics after having children and though they are not yet old enough to take in her previous exploits, the prospect of creating new memories is driving Glover on.
āThere is nothing rowing related in the house apart from one photo of Heather and I, which Logan points at and says āOlympics! Mummy won!ā,ā Glover said.
āWe havenāt really discussed it, though he teases me sometimes when he sees me training. He just thinks thatās normal. We havenāt introduced him to it at all.
āBut they are a huge motivation. Thinking about the three of them and being able to tell them they were around when this happened ā even if theyāre too young to remember ā is definitely a big motivator.ā
Glover had come to terms with missing out on Tokyo but the postponement of the Games left the door ajar for a return when she got back on the rowing machine during the first national lockdown last March.
Iām excited/anxious to share this with you..With the support of my family and unwavering backing from @SteveBackshall Iāve decided to attempt a comeback for the Tokyo Olympics. Being the best mum possible is always my priority, and Iām looking forward to trying to be the (cont..) pic.twitter.com/DtNmm33pHK
ā Helen Glover (@Helenglovergb) January 28, 2021
Having promised herself she would trial if her enjoyment ā not to mention the impressive times ā continued until Christmas, she is now hoping to earn a place in the squad while balancing training commitments with childcare.
āIām definitely still learning that one,ā she said. āWhen they sleep, I train is my general principle and it focuses the mind as I know that if I donāt train in those moments, Iāve missed that session.
āMost afternoons, Iāll have the least normal weights session youāll see ā nursery rhymes are blaring out the speakers and Iāll have a little dance with one of the twins in between sets to keep them entertained.
āThere have been many times Iāve needed to get off the rowing machine halfway through because a baby has woken up, or stopped a weights session to feed one of them.
āMy first responsibility is as a mum. The moment I feel that any of the children miss out at all, I will step away from rowing. But I donāt see that happening and Iām really happy with the balance at the moment.ā
Glover has benefited from advice from other athletes who have attempted a similar balancing act, such as Dame Sarah Storey and Anna Watkins, while she also praised an āamazingā support network.
āMy family and friends know Iām absolutely crazy for doing this but have really encouraged me to give it a go,ā she said. āThat has helped keep me going.
āMy mindset at the moment is to keep enjoying it. Iām sure that will change as the pressure arrives around selection time and the closer we get to the Olympics itāll be more pressure and stress, but thatās natural.
āEven if I donāt make it to the Games, I hope to still make a positive impact on the team.
āThey are a young team, so any inside knowledge or information I can pass on could be really beneficial. Iād love to see the team do really well whether Iāll be involved or not.
āBut this is the first step to thinking it could really happen. I thought Iād woken up in my last Olympic year five years ago, so to think it could be happening again in a few monthsā time is still sinking in.
āItās strange, in some ways, but really exciting.ā