The road to Paris 2024 begins at home for rowing royalty Helen Glover.
Having won Olympic gold medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016, Glover made more history in Tokyo as she became the first mother to compete for Team GB in rowing.
Aged 37, Glover is now bidding to become the first British mum-of-three to win an Olympic medal.
“My ambition for my kids would be, in the future – take the risks, take the chances with no fear of failure,” says Glover.
“Just have excitement – yes, there are the results, but it’s the journey.
“Your perspective changes when you have children and my perspective is what effect and impact can I have?
“What does this journey mean and where does it lead to, rather than just a result that’s a dot in the timeline of your life.”
Having gone unbeaten for years in the pair, Glover is reinventing herself to make a fourth Olympics.
She has spent this crucial qualification season in the four and added a fifth European medal to her haul with silver alongside Rebecca Shorten, Heidi Long and Rowan McKellar.
Since that podium finish at Lake Bled in May, crew combinations have changed with the four taking silver and bronze respectively at World Cups in Varese and Lucerne.
“I’m used to having a lot more control,” said Glover.
“You’re almost handing over that control and you’re a bit more of a cog in the machine. It does feel quite different and there are different challenges.
“I definitely feel a lot of pressure sitting in three. It’s a bit of an engine room seat, so I’ve got to make sure my engine is going well, which it seems to be.
“The race is 30 seconds shorter, which is nice! It’s a bit more fast and furious.”
Glover's children Logan, Kit and Willow came along for the ride at the Europeans and Henley Royal Regatta.
Whether the trio are cheering her on at the sidelines or watching her practice on the erg, it's the excitement of involving her children in the Team GB lifestyle that pushed Glover to return for a possible fourth Olympics.
And with exactly one year to go until Paris 2024, Team GB have now launched their Mini Mascot campaign, a once in a lifetime opportunity that will give five children, aged 5-11, the opportunity to step into the shoes of a Team GB athlete and lead the way as a mascot next summer.
"One of the main reasons I wanted to come back and compete as an Olympian with children was to show them that they can be part of it too," said Glover.
"You can't underestimate what an inspirational process is and everyone in the nation should feel like they are part of it really.
"So, for other children of the nation to experience this and be a part of the team and part of Team GB, those five special children selected as Mini Mascots really represent all those people who are involved.
"It's a brilliant once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as the winners could get to meet some athletes, take part in some activities with them, go to Kitting Out or wave off the team as they head to Paris.
"The Olympics has so many good values, it's not just about succeeding, you're also striving to be a good teammate and a good citizen.
"These are all things that I want to teach my kids and I think we can do that through the Olympics and really light that fire.
"As far as what your interests or favourite activities are, if your super sporty, a little bit sporty, love the Olympics or don't know much about it, everybody is welcome to apply, and it will be really great to be involved."
Know a child aged 5-11 that would relish the extraordinary opportunity to become a part of Team GB for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games? You can nominate them to become an official Team GB Mini Mascot at: www.teamgb.com/mascot
Sportsbeat 2023