Lauren Rowles: Three-time Paralympic champion on history, identity, and representation
The Latin phrase "nomen est omen" means "the name is a sign," and for British Paralympian Lauren Rowles, it feels almost prophetic. With "row" embedded in her very name, it’s as if she was destined to take on the water. At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, she didn’t just row; she made history.
At just 26 years old, she became the woman to win gold in Para rowing at three Paralympic Games, thanks to her latest victory in the PR2 mixed sculls alongside her new partner Gregg Stevenson.
But Lauren’s journey goes far beyond the boat. As a trailblazing athlete with many aspects to her identity, Rowles has become the role model she wished she had, pushing for greater inclusivity within the Paralympic movement. Read on to hear her thoughts in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com.
Rowles: What feels better than making history, right?
Sports had always been part of Rowles' life, but following her paralysis at the age of 13, she needed to find a new way forward. And she did.
Wheelchair racing became her first love, but it wasn’t until she crossed paths with the British rowing team, who saw untapped potential in her, that she would begin the ascent that ultimately led her to Paralympic greatness.
When Rowles switched from wheelchair racing to rowing, she was raw, untested in this new sport.
But she quickly adapted to the physical demands of rowing and forged an unbreakable connection with the water.
Her evolution was swift and relentless, culminating in a meteoric rise that saw her win gold in her debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, just two years after taking up the sport. “To become Paralympic champion is everything you dream of,” Rowles reflected. “I don't think you could put into words how much it means.”
That drive didn’t stop after her first taste of gold. “When we finished Tokyo, I thought, 'Wow, I've just won my second.' I immediately wondered, 'Can it be done, the third?’”
After her long-time rowing partner Laurence Whiteley retired, she found a new partner in Stevenson, a former Royal Engineer Commando. Their connection was instant, and it wasn’t long before they began breaking records together.
Their partnership culminated in Paris 2024, where they became the first PR2 mixed double sculls crew to break the eight-minute barrier in the heats and go on to win a third consecutive gold medal. Rowles, being the first woman to do so.
“This is definitely the best one yet,” she said. “To do it a third time in a row. Nobody’s ever done this before. What feels better than making history, right?
All at the age of 26. Still, the Brit remains humble.
“It's not just about me; it's about us as a crew, it's about the legacy of this boat, it's about what started me here 10 years ago, and Gregg's now added to that,” Rowles said.
This also marks the best-ever Games for ParalympicsGB Rowing at Paris 2024.
Her mission? "To represent the people that look like me and love like me.”
For Rowles, the medals and records are just one piece of her whole self. Throughout her career, she has explored her identity, getting to know “who Lauren is off the water as well as who Lauren is on the water.”
The answer to that question? As she told Olympics.com, Lauren is a woman who is consistently driven in all senses of life. She is courageous, determined, and incredibly passionate about everything she does. She will also “never, ever give up on anything.”
As Rowles found her way into the world of Paralympic sports, she became acutely aware of the need for greater visibility for athletes of all identities. She has become a beacon for queer and disabled communities, as she became the role model that she wished she had growing up.
“I didn’t see myself represented within sport as a young queer and disabled person. I would love for other people to be able to watch me and what I do, my sports, and to really represent the people that look like me and love like me,” she shared.
And it’s not just her personal story that makes her reflect on the importance of representation, it’s the athletes she’s surrounded by at every Paralympic Games. “I’m surrounded by so many incredible athletes. There’s such a beauty in the intersectionality of everybody and realizing that everybody is their own unique self,” she reflected.
Motherhood and motivation
March 2024 marked another significant milestone in Rowles’ life: she added ‘mother’ to her list of identities.
Alongside her fiancé, three-time Paralympian Jude Hamer, the couple welcomed their son Noah just months before Paris.
“My life has completely changed since then,” Rowles said.
Motherhood also transformed her perspective on sport. “When you’re an athlete, everything is about you—your training, your medals, your performance. But when you have a child, that all shifts. Suddenly, it’s not just about you anymore.”
Rowles now races not just for herself but for her son, whom she carries with her symbolically in every race, through a necklace bearing the birthstones of her family. “I think it allows me to channel a bigger energy source. I’m doing it for my son, and I want to be a role model for him.”
Her family provides the emotional anchor she needs to keep pushing, even when the road gets hard. “It’s allowed me to focus on the wider picture of why I do this, my passion and my purpose.”
Legacy and vision for the future
Rowles is deeply committed to inspiring future generations, particularly those who may feel like they don’t fit the mold of a typical athlete. And she wants to leave more than just a record-breaking career behind. Like many Paralympians, Rowles envisions a world where Paralympic sport is a mainstream celebration of athleticism and resilience. “I think for me it’s about continuing my legacy, making sure that Paralympic sport gets the visibility it deserves, and pushing for greater inclusion.”
Though she’s already achieved so much, Rowles admits that there’s still a fire burning inside her. At just 26, she has no plans to slow down. “Each Games is different, the goals change, but I’m definitely young enough, and there is a part of my brain telling me that I’m not quite done yet.”
With her heart full and her sights set on both personal and collective victories, Rowles is poised to continue blazing trails—not just for herself, but for every young athlete who sees a piece of themselves in her extraordinary journey.