Helen Glover and Becky Wilde, who started rowing careers at University of Bath, named in Team GB squad for Paris 2024 Olympics
Double gold-medallist Helen Glover and Olympic debutant Becky Wilde, both graduates of the British Rowing Performance Development Academy (PDA) at the University of Bath, have been confirmed in the Team GB squad for Paris 2024.
It will be a fourth Games for Glover, who famously won women’s pair gold at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics with University of Bath alumna Heather Stanning. She will contest the women’s four this time with Esme Booth, Sam Redgrave and Rebecca Shorten.
Wilde, who first took up rowing while studying Sport and Social Sciences at the University, earned her place after she and Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne successfully qualified the women’s double scull at last month’s Final Olympic Qualifying Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland.
“Selection for my fourth Games feels different because the first time I still had this disbelief that I was becoming an Olympian,” said Glover. “A huge reason for aiming for Paris was thinking how great it will be to have my family there to watch and support me, and being able to share all of this with them is so special.”
Also heading to Paris is Paul Stannard, Men’s Head Coach for the GB Rowing Team. He led the PDA – formerly known as the World-Class Start Programme – at the University of Bath when Glover first joined in 2007 as a newcomer to the sport and helped her develop into a multiple Olympic, World and European champion.
Wilde also transitioned from another sport, having been part of Mark Skimming’s student swimming squad in her first year at University before joining the PDA now led by Dan Harris.
Trials for the British Rowing Bath PDA take place throughout the year and are open to women aged 14-22 who are 178cm or taller and men aged 14-20 who are 188cm or taller. Trialists need no previous rowing experience, just the right physique and attitude to give rowing a go.
For more information about trialling for the Bath PDA please email Tom Selby at tom.selby@britishrowing.org or Dan Harris at dan.harris@britishrowing.org.
Picture credits: Team GB.
