Helen Glover’s return to international rowing is likely to come in Britain’s world-beating women’s four, according to head coach Andrew Randell.
The 36-year-old mum-of-three’s return has sharpened minds in a buoyant squad that bounced back from a tough Olympics in Tokyo to top the medal table at the 2022 World Championships.
As she romped to gold at the British Trials with Rebecca Shorten, attention turned to the boat in which the double Olympic champion will chase another slice of sporting history in Paris.
Glover has only ever raced in a pair internationally but Randell revealed that is now likely to change.
“We don’t know, we haven’t made a decision yet,” said the Australian.
“We will probably just try and build on the crews that won medals last year, so if I was to give you a hint, it’s likely to be the four.
“There’s no reason why we would move away from that, we’re world champions in that event, so you’d have to look at something really outstanding to move away from that.”
Shorten, Heidi Long, Rowan McKellar and Samantha Redgrave combined to win Britain’s third world title in the women’s four last summer in Racice, Czech Republic.
Neither Long nor Redgrave raced at Sunday’s Trials at Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake.
The women’s four dropped off the Olympic programme in 1996 and was only reintroduced at Tokyo, where Team GB finished fourth.
Glover has made clear that she isn’t bothered by which boat she’s placed in - as long as it’s the top one.
“I’ve never set out to row in a pair, I’ve just been lucky to have amazing pairs partners,” she said.
“I’ve had Heather (Stanning), Polly (Swann) and now Rebecca and if I could cherry-pick those partners, I would have chosen those three every time.
“I’ve been really fortunate and that has made pairs go fast.
“I would choose whichever boat goes fastest, I came back open to a single, a pair, a four, whatever’s going to go fast.”
Subject to selection, Glover’s road to Paris 2024 begins in earnest at May’s European Championships in Slovenia, followed by two World Cup events, and then the World Championships in Serbia in September where boats can qualify for the Olympics.
If she adds to her two golds from London 2012 and Rio 2016, Glover will become the first British mum-of-three to win an Olympic medal in any sport.
The only mother to have represented Team GB in the sport of rowing, she sparked a sensation with the announcement of her return to full-time training.
National media lined up for interviews and the social media comments came in their thousands but it was the response of her team-mates that mattered most.
“I’m surprised by how interested everybody is!” said Glover.
“When anybody does something different, it is a little bit scary. What I’m doing is a little bit outside the norm, but to be able to come back into the squad and be celebrated and accepted, it’s really nice.
“That’s probably been the nicest part of it and the least expected.
“I want to be part of the talent that’s on the team now. It’s intimidating coming in and rowing with girls who’ve just come back from the World Championships and won gold.
“I remember what it took to do that when I did it and I desperately want to be in that boat with them as well. I’m coming in and seeing what this generation are doing and trying to get up to that level.”
British Rowing is the governing body for the sport and is responsible for the development of rowing in England and the training and selection of rowers to represent Great Britain. The GB Rowing Team is supported by the National Lottery Sports Fund. To find out more, and to follow the team, head to https://www.britishrowing.org/
