RUGBY’s Olympic gold medal hero has told The Observer that she achieved her win thanks to her determination, her belief in her team mates – and Candy Crush!
Lauren Henry, a former Rugby High School student who now lives in Lutterworth, won gold alongside her Team GB Women’s Quadruple Sculls teammates last week.
The sky is now the limit for 22-year-old Lauren, the youngest rower in Team GB, who has set her sights on becoming Britain’s most successful female rower.
Her team triumphed after a final sprint and dramatic photo finish, crossing the line just 0.15 seconds ahead of their Dutch rivals who had led for the entire race.
Lauren told The Observer that the moment she realised she had won gold would stay with her forever.
She said: “That moment was just ecstatic. It was a mixture of relief and pure undiluted joy at what we’d just done.
“We didn’t have the best start but I always believed we could do it.”
Lauren (right) celebrates on the podium with her teammates. Picture by Steve McArthur / @stevemcarthur.nz / www.photosport.nz / British Rowing
But she wasn’t so relaxed the day before the final, when the nerves hit her ‘like a wave’.
“I couldn’t speak to anyone apart from my parents and my coach, so I deleted all my social media apps.
“I didn’t know what to do with myself – so I downloaded Candy Crush and played 180 levels in about six hours!”
First-time Olympian Lauren took up rowing at the age of 13 at Leicester Rowing Club when she followed her twin sister Becky into the sport.
She said: “I wasn’t very good at the start. In fact, I was the worst at my club.”
But a junior coach at Leicester Rowing Club saw her potential and she began to realise it.
And by the time the Rio Olympics came around in 2016, Lauren started to dream of Olympic gold.
“I always wanted to be the best,” she said. “At local competitions I would be absolutely crushed if I didn’t win. I just wanted to beat everyone.”
Her competitive spirit remains alive and well – and she plans to conquer her chosen sport.
“My goal is to be the most successful female rower ever from Great Britain.
“It’s a bit strange because I’m 22 and I’ve got a European, a World and an Olympic gold – which is quite unusual!
“But the real greats don’t just stick with one gold, they get multiple, so that’s my aim.
“Me and my coach have our eye on having a go in the single sculls event for a season or two. That’s the real gladiatorial event and we think we can do it.”
Lauren says she is staggered by the support she has received from back home – Rugby’s Mayor is among residents to have congratulated her via social media, and she has been chosen to receive the Freedom of Harborough District for her achievement.
“When I hear of all the people who have watched it, it gives me goosebumps.
“I’m really proud of where I’m from, and that I was able to bring back the gold.
“The amount of people who have got in touch with me – it’s really overwhelming. A massive thank you to all my supporters back home.”
