GLOVE STORY

New European champion Helen: Vital to talk about being a mum in sport...although I'm faster now with three kids

- ALAN SMITH

HELEN GLOVER has never wanted to be placed upon a pedestal.

But the GB rowing star knows she will keep having conversations about motherhood and elite performance until her trailblazing path becomes the norm.

The 37-year-old is aiming for a fourth Olympics this summer as part of the women's fours team.

And the former obsessive over minor details says she has "embraced imperfection to set faster times in training than ever before.

Yesterday Glover was part of a quartet alongside Esme Booth, Samantha Redgrave and Rebecca Shorten - that eased past Romania to win European championship gold in Hungary.

But by proving over and over that athletes can return to the top of their sports after giving birth, the mum of three understands why her story is such a source of inspiration.

Glover said at the launch of NatWest's Team Talk campaign: "When I'm out there rowing on the water, you can spotlight me from any time in the past decade.

"I feel, physically and emotionally, fundamentally the same person as I always have been when I'm out there.