Rowing’s Lauren Henry has been named Athletes’ Athlete of the Month after winning a trio of gold medals in June.
The 23-year-old topped a vote amongst British Elite Athletes Association (BEAA) members following her success in the women’s single sculls at the European Rowing Championships and the World Rowing Cup events in Varese and Lucerne.
A reigning Olympic champion in the women’s quadruple sculls, Lauren switched to the individual event after last summer’s victory in Paris.
Her European title at the beginning of June was her first senior international gold medal in the single sculls and was made even more impressive as she set a British record and a European Best Time in the process.
She followed that up with a dominant display in Varese, where she won by more than eight seconds before victory in Lucerne completed a remarkable month.
“It [June] was pretty amazing,” Lauren said.
“We had three international regattas and it's the first time I've raced in the single sculls at senior international level. I knew I was going to be fast. I have been very fast in training, but to go out there and dominate all three [races] was quite special for me.
“I've done the single sculls at age group level, and I always felt that I could never quite get the best out of myself. I always felt that I got a bit nervous, asked myself to do too much and then didn't produce my best, so it was a big step to be able to go out there and produce what I knew I was capable of when the pressure was on.”
The Athletes’ Athlete of the Month award is presented by the BEAA on behalf of its members – elite British sportspeople who receive funding from UK Sport’s World Class Programme.
June’s shortlist was particularly competitive, with Laura Sugar (para-canoeing) and Henry Urand (para-triathlon) also winning European titles, and taekwondo’s Lily Kingsley medalling in only her second senior tournament.
“I was very honoured to be nominated for the award,” Lauren added.
“I didn't think I was going to win, so it’s a really nice surprise after being up against such a strong field of athletes who've had fantastic achievements this month as well.
“I think it's all the more special that it's voted for by your peers because the people that are voting, they're all on World Class Programme, so they know what elite sport is like and they know what it's like to be competing at the highest level.”
Congratulations to Lauren, and also to Laura, Henry and Lily for being nominated.
World Class Programme athletes can get involved in future Athletes' Athlete of the Month votes by taking part via the BEAA's monthly member emails.
