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Olympics: Helen Glover ‘driven’ by messages from other parents

Explorer Steve Backshall says wife Helen Glover is an “extraordinary role model� after making the Tokyo Olympic rowing team despite having three children under three.

Two-time Olympic champion Helen gave birth to twins, Kit and Willow, in January 2020. The couple already had an 18-month-old son Logan.

Steve explained: “[The twins] were about 10 weeks old when the Tokyo Olympics was postponed for a year. Helen had not been in a boat, without any exaggeration, since the Rio final.

“She had this strange look in her eye after she heard the Olympics had been postponed and I thought: ‘Oh no, here we go!’�

Steve said there were occasions when Helen would be training on the water having had only an hour’s sleep.

“It completely blows my mind!� he said.

He added that she had been spurred on by parents across the country who have sent her messages of encouragement.

This clip is originally from 5 Live Weekend Breakfast on 18 July 2021.

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