Building your future: Helen Glover
On 27 April, Helen gave this inspirational address at the National Scout Service in St George’s Chapel Windsor at our Day of Celebration and Achievement.
Some of you might know me as Helen the rower, an Olympian, or a mum. But today, I’m here as Helen the Scout.
Like you, I grew up in the Scout movement – and it shaped me more than I could ever have imagined. Back when I was a Cub Scout in Cornwall, the future felt like a distant idea. Actually, in Cornwall, everything felt a long way away!
I spent my childhood running barefoot on beaches, swimming in the sea before school, and doing everything but thinking about the future. I was proud to be one of the first girls in my Cub Pack. I wanted to prove I could do everything the boys could – maybe an early sign of the competitor in me.
Back then, the idea of standing on an Olympic podium felt like a completely different world. It wasn’t something I ever thought someone like me could do. But here’s the truth: your future is in your hands. And that’s what we’re talking about today – building your future.
A turning point
My future started to shift at 21, when rowing found me. I’d just left university, had never rowed before, and had no idea what was next.
London had won the Olympic bid, and a talent ID programme launched looking for tall people who might be good at certain sports. I applied – confident that I met the 5’11” height requirement. I was 5’9” on tiptoes. Not a great start!
Still, I gave it everything during the physical tests. Afterwards, they asked me to try rowing. That moment changed the course of my life.
Just four years later, I crossed the finish line in London with Heather Stanning to win Team GB’s first gold medal of the 2012 Games.
The reality behind the glory
People often ask what that moment felt like. Was it pure joy? Passion? Excitement?
The truth? Relief.
I didn’t feel like I owned the Olympic title. I didn’t even feel like a real rower, let alone a champion. So, I knew I had to go on to Rio, this time, for me.
Heather and I had to evolve. We built a team around us – coaches, physios, psychologists, nutritionists – and drew strength from everyone. That became our superpower.
Between London and Rio, we were unbeaten in 55 races. Impressive? Yes. But I would’ve given anything to lose just once, to relieve the pressure. By the Rio final, we were in a pressure cooker – silent, stressed, barely communicating.
That morning at 5am, we stretched on the beach. Around us, the Rio nightlife was still going: people dancing, partying, unaware the Olympics were even happening.
And it hit me: these people don’t care about this race. Win or lose, the world keeps turning. What matters is how we race. That moment freed me. We raced. We won. And this time, I felt it.
A new kind of strength
After Rio, I did what many expected: I stepped away from the sport. Then I had my first child, Logan. And suddenly, no one asked if I’d row again. It felt like people assumed I was done.
In 2020, during lockdown, I had twins – a boy and a girl. We had no gym, just a dusty old rowing machine. And, helpfully, the twins only napped to the sound of the fan. Their naps got longer. So did my workouts.
Slowly, I noticed my fitness coming back. And I looked at my daughter one day and thought: What can I do to show you that anything is possible?
I’m useless at banana bread, so I set myself a lockdown project: make the Olympic team for Tokyo – after four years of retirement, with less than a year to go. And I did.
That comeback meant more to me than either of my Olympic golds. Because it wasn’t just about me anymore. It was about showing mothers, families, little girls and boys: you can rewrite the rules.
The final chapter
After Tokyo, I still had one dream: for my children to watch me race and see me on a podium. That became my drive for Paris: my fourth Olympic Games.
Carrying the flag for Team GB was an honour I’ll never forget. But seeing my three children smiling from the stands after winning a medal made it all worth it.
You can do this
Everything I’ve shared with you is not the story of a superhero. Or someone with extraordinary talent. It’s a story of someone who said yes to an opportunity and had the right people around her.
As King’s and Queen’s Scouts, you’ve already built the foundations of your future. The freezing mornings, the aching legs after a hike, the hours spent volunteering – it all counts.
It’s all preparing you. If there’s one thing I hope you take away today, it’s this: opportunities will come. You might not know what they look like yet, but when they do, notice them. Believe it can be you. Say yes.
Because it can be.
Behind every achievement I’ve had is a young Scout from Cornwall, learning resilience and teamwork around a campfire. So be proud of what you’ve done. Keep grabbing those moments. Keep believing in yourself.
It’s where your future begins.