Rowing champion Helen Glover awarded OBE, says motherhood shouldn’t limit ambition
Helen Glover, Olympian and mum of three, hopes her recent OBE for services to rowing will inspire parents to pursue their ambitions.
Helen Glover, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and mum of three, has once again made headlines—not for her prowess on the water this time, but for being appointed an OBE in the 2025 New Year Honours list.
The mum-of-three sees the accolade as a platform to inspire other mothers to chase their dreams, proving that parenthood needn’t define or limit a woman’s ambitions.
‘Being a mum makes me a better athlete’
Glover has had an illustrious career, winning gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and clinching silver in the women’s four at the Paris 2024 Games.
Her story, however, goes beyond medals. After stepping back from competitive rowing to focus on her family, she returned to the sport, becoming the first British mum to compete in rowing at the Olympics in Tokyo 2021.
Reflecting on her journey, she told the BBC:
I really want to champion mums and never being pigeon-holed by being a parent. For me, that’s been the biggest thing I want to give back through sport.
Her return to elite rowing after a career break was nothing short of remarkable. Training while raising her three children—son Logan and twins Kit and Willow—Glover credits motherhood with enhancing her performance. She explains:
If I didn’t have the kids, then I wouldn’t be as motivated. Being a mum makes me a better rower, and being a rower makes me a better mum!
Redefining what’s possible for parents
Glover’s OBE is not just a celebration of her athletic achievements but a recognition of her efforts to change the narrative around motherhood and high-performance careers.
“Through Tokyo and Paris, I’ve gained so much more from what I’ve given back,” she said, highlighting the pride she feels in setting an example for her children and for other women who may feel torn between their ambitions and their roles as parents.
In recent years, the sporting world has seen a surge of women balancing motherhood with elite competition, from Serena Williams in tennis to Jessica Ennis-Hill in athletics.
Glover’s story adds to this growing body of evidence that parenthood can coexist with—and even enhance—professional aspirations.
The power of representation
Representation matters, and Glover knows her journey resonates far beyond the rowing community. Whether it’s inspiring new mums to return to work, take up a new challenge, or rekindle a passion they’ve set aside, Glover’s story strikes a chord.
She has openly discussed the logistical and emotional challenges of balancing training schedules with school runs and bedtime routines but stresses that her experience proves what’s possible.
“It’s about showing my children and other mums that your life doesn’t have to stop,” she said in an interview with The Guardian. “You can make both things work.”
Her advice to other mothers? Don’t let societal expectations hold you back. As she told BBC News:
London and Rio for me was this selfish ambition project, but now I want to focus on giving back. I want to help other mums see that they don’t need to be pigeon-holed by being a parent.
Glover’s OBE is more than an accolade; it’s a call to action for mothers everywhere to reimagine what’s possible.
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Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.
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