AN OLYMPIC hero who lives in Lutterworth is set to receive a prestigious local honour.
Lauren Henry, a member of Team GB’s triumphant Women’s Quadruple Sculls team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is set to be granted the Freedom of Harborough District at a ceremony in 2025.
At an extraordinary meeting of Harborough District Council, councillors unanimously agreed that the authority would confer the title of honorary freewoman to the rower.
The Freedom of the District is the highest honour the council can bestow and is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and have a strong association with the Harborough district.
Lauren will be invited to a special presentation at Annual Council in May.
The 22-year-old said: “It is a huge honour and massive privilege to be awarded Freedom of the District. I am very grateful to recognised in this way and am thankful to everyone for their support.”
Council Leader Coun Phil Knowles put forward the motion to grant the honour to Lauren.
He said: “It is a privilege for me to be able to put this motion forward and I’m delighted to have had unanimous support from across the Council Chamber.
“Lauren is a wonderful ambassador for our district and our country. This is the highest honour that Harborough district can bestow, and it is richly deserved.”
Rugby-born rower Lauren Henry starred in one of the most dramatic moments of the Paris games when she struck gold in the women’s quadruple sculls with crewmates Georgie Brayshaw, Lola Anderson and Hannah Scott.
The Team GB crew edged out the Netherlands in the final stroke of the race at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium to win gold by just 0.15 seconds, putting the 22-year-old former Rugby High School pupil on the top step of the podium at her first Olympic Games.
First-time Olympian Lauren took up rowing at the age of 13 at Leicester Rowing Club. At 22, she became the youngest rower on Team GB in Paris – and now she plans to conquer her chosen sport.
Following her triumph in July, Lauren told the Observer: “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.”
Rugby Borough Council has also announced Lauren will be granted the Freedom of the Borough, the date of which is yet to be confirmed.
