Helen Glover MBE is a professional British rower and member of the Great Britain Rowing team. She has won two Olympic Gold medals and was once ranked the number-one female rower in the world. Throughout her career, she has set Olympic and world records and has become an inspirational figure, particularly for her return to elite sport after motherhood.
Helen began her rowing career in the Sporting Giants scheme and quickly progressed to elite status. Partnering with Heather Stanning, they became a formidable team in the women’s coxless pairs, winning Team GB’s first gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. She was also part of the crew that won the Women's Eights Head of the River Race in 2014 and 2015. Together with Stanning, she defended her world title at the 2014 World Rowing Championships and secured another title in 2015, maintaining their dominance through the 2016 Rio Olympics.
After becoming a mother, Helen returned to competition, winning the European Coxless Pair title with Polly Swann. She competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, finishing fourth and becoming the first mother to row for Britain. In 2022, she won a silver medal at the World Rowing Coastal Championships and a bronze in the women’s coxless four at the 2023 World Rowing Championships. Helen won a silver medal at her fourth Olympics in Paris 2024 where she was also a flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony alongside Tom Daley.
As a speaker, Helen shares her experiences of resilience and dedication, focusing on the challenges of balancing sport and motherhood. Her motivational talks highlight perseverance and goal setting, making her a sought-after speaker in the sporting community. Helen continues to inspire many with her journey and achievements.