Helen Glover training for Tokyo with ‘new perspective’ after having children
The 34-year-old won gold in both London and Rio.
Helen Glover embarked upon her latest quest for Olympic glory having had an enormous weight lifted from her shoulders.
Glover, who won gold at London 2012 and in Rio four years later alongside Heather Stanning, has returned to rowing after having three children, and the 34-year-old admits motherhood has given her fresh perspective.
She told the PA news agency: “It takes a lot of the weight off your shoulders because I’ve got a new most important job in the world, I’ve got a new perspective on the importance of sport.
“Now, what I do at the Olympics is a massive bonus. If I get a full day’s training, it’s a massive bonus.”
Glover, who claimed the European women’s pair title with partner Polly Swann in Italy last month four years on from her last taste of competitive action, is bidding to become the first British female rower to win an Olympic medal after having a family when the rescheduled Games take place in Tokyo this summer.
Her marriage to TV presenter Steve Backshall and the arrivals of son Logan, who is three in July, and 15-month-old twins Bo and Kit in the meantime have changed her life immeasurably, but also rekindled her love for sport.
“I’ve always said to myself after a training day, I don’t want the children to know whether I’ve had a good day or a bad day on the water.
“I should just be Mum and not be affected by it. I really leave my emotions over rowing at the door, and that’s actually getting the best out of my rowing performance as well.”
Combining family life with the training schedule of an elite athlete has proved gruelling, and remains a work in progress.
“I don’t sit down. Our day starts at 5am every morning. Logan has his internal alarm clock which gets him up at 5am, but I actually quite like that.
“I have two and a half hours before I have to leave the house, and I feel like it’s a really nice time with the little ones that I get.”
She said: “As athletes, part of the job of being the best athlete you can be is working with whatever is in front of you and I think people will be so focused on their performance that the crowd won’t worry them.
“But at the same time, there’s just a really big appreciation from all the athletes for all the hard work that has gone into making these Games happen.”
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