BROMSGROVE’S Lauren Rowles has been named the 2024 female athletes’ athlete of the year.
The 26-year-old para-rower became the first three-time Paralympic gold medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The award was voted for by Britain’s elite sportspeople who competed at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
British Elite Athletes Association presented the award on behalf of current and former world class programme athletes who nominated and voted for the winner.
Lauren said: “It’s very special. It means a lot.When I was in Paris I was inspired by the athletes around me in the GB team.
“These people have been through the same journey as me and the fact that this group of athletes think enough of me really means a lot.
“I can’t thank everybody enough for voting. To get this recognition at the end of a Paralympic year means more than people know.”
Lauren won PR2 mixed double sculls gold alongside Gregg Stevenson in Paris last summer. Lauren and Gregg set a new world and Paralympic record in the heats in Paris.
Gregg won the male athletes’ athlete of the year award in 2023. Bromsgrove para-rower Lauren also won gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. She and Gregg set a new world and Paralympic record in the heats in Paris. The pair won the World Rowing para crew of the year award after also taking gold at the European Championships.
She added: “My childhood heroes were Dame Kelly Holmes and Paula Radcliffe – people who made history.
“That is what I aspired to do. When you do sport who doesn’t want to become a legend?
“When we crossed the finish line (in Paris) there was that moment of going: ‘I am in a league of my own’. I remember holding my arms out and looking up to the sky. It is one of my favourite moments of Paris when I just reflected on the ten years I put into it (rowing).
“Seven-year-old Lauren wanted to become an Olympian and I had all these things happen in my life along the way, but it didn’t steer me off the path of wanting to become a legend of sport.
“To be able to have that feels very surreal but at the same time it is the greatest privilege of my life, and I feel really proud.
“Generally, as athletes, we are quite hard on ourselves but it’s my greatest achievement in sport and I hope it creates a legacy for para-sport and, in particular, for me trying to put para-rowing on the map.”
