Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife is a well known search phrase for the British rowing star. Helen Glover is much more than the wife of a famous TV presenter. She is a double Olympic champion and one of Britain’s best rowers.

Glover won Olympic gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016 with Heather Stanning. She later returned to elite sport after becoming a mother. She reached an Olympic final in Tokyo and won silver at Paris 2024.

She is married to Steve Backshall, the British naturalist and TV presenter. The couple have three children. Their family life often includes sport, nature, travel, and outdoor time.

Quick Bio

Helen Glover Early Life

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife was born on 17 June 1986 in Truro, Cornwall. She grew up in Penzance. Sport was a big part of her childhood.

She tried many sports before rowing. She took part in cross country, hockey, tennis, and swimming. She also showed strong fitness from a young age.

Glover later studied Sport and Exercise Science in Cardiff. She also trained as a physical education teacher. At that point, rowing was not the main focus of her life.

How Did Helen Glover Start Rowing?

Glover entered the Sporting Giants talent program in 2008. The program looked for people with the right build for Olympic sports. She did not have years of rowing experience.

Her talent soon became clear. She trained with the GB Rowing Team Start program in Bath. Coach Paul Stannard helped guide her early progress.

Within two years, she was racing at senior level. She then formed a strong pair with Heather Stanning. Their rise was fast and caught the attention of British sport.

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife and London 2012

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife became a national sports star at the London Olympics. She raced in the women’s coxless pair with Heather Stanning. The pair went into the Games with strong medal hopes.

They raced with control in the final at Eton Dorney. They moved into the lead and stayed there. Their win gave Team GB its first gold medal of London 2012.

The result also made British rowing history. Glover and Stanning became the first British women to win Olympic rowing gold. Their success made them major names in British sport.

Heather Stanning and the Unbeaten Years

Glover and Stanning built a powerful rowing partnership. Their styles worked well together. They combined strength, calm racing, and discipline.

Stanning later spent time away from rowing due to her military duties. During that time, Glover raced with Polly Swann. Glover won a world title with Swann in 2013.

Stanning then returned to the boat. The pair won more major races and titles. They stayed unbeaten in international racing for almost five years.

Rio 2016 and a Second Olympic Gold

At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Glover and Stanning returned as champions. There was pressure on them to repeat their London win. They handled that pressure well.

They won the women’s pair final and took another Olympic gold. The victory gave Glover her second Olympic title. It also completed a long unbeaten run.

The result placed Glover among Britain’s leading rowers. She had now won two Olympic gold medals in a row. Her partnership with Stanning became part of British rowing history.

How Did Helen Glover Meet Steve Backshall?

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife met Steve Backshall in 2014. They met during a Sport Relief event at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Both already had successful careers.

Backshall is a naturalist, explorer, author, and TV presenter. Many viewers know him from the BBC series Deadly 60. His work often focuses on animals and outdoor adventure.

The couple became engaged in 2015. Backshall proposed during a trip to Namibia. They announced their engagement later that year.

Helen Glover and Steve Backshall Wedding

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife married Steve Backshall on 10 September 2016. The wedding took place in West Cornwall. The location reflected Glover’s strong link with Cornwall.

The ceremony was held near the coast. Heather Stanning served as maid of honour. She had shared two Olympic victories with Glover.

The marriage joined two people with active careers. Glover worked in elite sport. Backshall worked in TV, wildlife, books, and exploration.

Family Life and Three Children

After Rio, Glover stepped away from full time elite rowing. Family life became a bigger part of her routine. She and Backshall later became parents to three children.

Their son Logan was born in July 2018. The couple then welcomed twins in January 2020. Team GB material has named the three children as Logan, Kit, and Willow.

The family spends a lot of time outdoors. Nature is also a key part of Backshall’s work. Glover has spoken about making family life and sport work together.

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife and Motherhood

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife became an important figure for mothers in elite sport. She returned to serious rowing after having three children. Her return began during the 2020 lockdown.

She used a rowing machine at home and rebuilt her fitness. The delayed Tokyo Games gave her more time. She then began to think about an Olympic return.

Glover rejoined the British rowing program. She trained while caring for her young family. Her return showed that motherhood did not have to end an elite sports career.

Tokyo 2020 Comeback

Glover raced with Polly Swann during her Tokyo comeback. The pair won the European title in 2021. That result showed they could race with the best crews.

At the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, they reached the women’s pair final. Glover and Swann finished fourth. They missed a medal, but the result was still a major success.

Glover also made British rowing history. She became the first mother to row for Team GB at an Olympic Games. Her return changed how many people viewed parenthood in elite sport.

Why Was Paris 2024 So Important?

Glover did not stop after Tokyo. She returned again for the Paris 2024 Olympics. This time, she raced in the women’s four.

Her crew included Esme Booth, Samantha Redgrave, and Rebecca Shorten. The British boat became a strong medal hope. Glover also received a special honour before the racing began.

She carried the British flag with diver Tom Daley at the Opening Ceremony. She became the first female British rower to do so. It was a major moment at her fourth Olympics.

Paris 2024 Silver Medal

The British women’s four reached the Olympic final in Paris. The race was very close. Britain finished just behind the Netherlands.

Glover and her crew won the silver medal. It was Glover’s third Olympic medal. The medal came eight years after her second Olympic gold.

The result made her comeback even more notable. She had won another Olympic medal after becoming a mother of three. Her success drew wide attention across British sport.

Helen Glover and Athlete Mothers

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife has brought more attention to athlete mothers. Her career showed the challenge of mixing elite sport with family life. It also showed why good support matters.

She has spoken about the need for flexible systems. Training plans must work with family duties. Travel, rest, and childcare can affect an athlete’s return.

Every athlete has a different family life. Still, Glover gave other athletes a clear example. A mother can return to top sport and compete for medals.

Life With Steve Backshall

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife shares many interests with Steve Backshall. Both enjoy the outdoors. Both also have careers that need fitness and discipline.

They have worked together on a family book. It is called Wildlings: How to Raise Your Family in Nature. The book encourages families to spend more time outside.

Backshall has continued his work in wildlife TV and education. Glover has balanced family life with sport. Their public work often shows their shared love of nature.

What Is Helen Glover Doing Now?

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife has not fully closed the door on another Olympics. After Paris, she took time away from top level racing. She later returned to competition.

She has also shown interest in beach sprint rowing. The event will make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. Glover has raced in the sport before.

A fifth Olympic appearance is not confirmed. Glover has only said she wants to keep her options open. A future Olympic place would still depend on form and selection.

Helen Glover Sporting Legacy

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife built her career through focus and discipline. She began rowing later than many elite athletes. Yet she reached the top in only a few years.

Her Olympic story now covers more than a decade. She won gold in 2012 and 2016. She later returned as a mother and reached another Olympic podium in 2024.

Her life with Steve Backshall is one part of her story. Her sporting record is another major part. Both have helped make her a well known public figure in Britain.

Final Thoughts on Helen Glover

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife is an Olympic champion, mother, and British sports pioneer. Her rowing career began through a talent search. It soon became one of the best careers in British rowing.

She won two Olympic gold medals with Heather Stanning. She later returned after starting a family. Her Paris silver proved that she could still race at the highest level.

Her marriage to Steve Backshall adds another public part to her story. Yet her own record needs no extra label. Helen Glover has earned her place in British sporting history.

FAQs

Who is Helen Glover?

Helen Glover is a British rower and winner of three Olympic medals. She won gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016. She also won silver in the women’s four at Paris 2024.

Who is Steve Backshall’s wife?

Helen Glover Steve Backshall Wife refers to Olympic rower Helen Glover. She married Steve Backshall in September 2016. Backshall is a British wildlife presenter, explorer, and author.

How many children do Helen Glover and Steve Backshall have?

The couple have three children. Their son Logan was born in 2018. They welcomed twins in 2020.

How many Olympic medals has Helen Glover won?

She has won three Olympic medals. She won two gold medals in the women’s pair. She later won silver in the women’s four at Paris 2024.

Will Helen Glover compete at Los Angeles 2028?

No Olympic place has been confirmed. Glover has said she wants to keep her options open. She has also shown interest in beach sprint rowing, which joins the Olympics in 2028.