Swann fully recovered and targeting medal in Rio

After missing last year's World Championships through injury Lancaster-born rower Polly Swann is keen to make up for lost time in Rio at the Olympic Games.
Polly Swann.Polly Swann.
Polly Swann.

Swann won gold as part of the Great Britain women’s eight at the European Championship in Germany in May and looks likely to be on the plane to Rio as part of Team GB in a little over two months’ time.

It was a back injury that ruled the 27-year-old out of action last year but after a winter of hard work she is back in the boat and raring to go, evident by helping GB claim silver at the World Cup in Lucerne this weekend just gone.

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“To be selected for Rio would be absolutely massive, it’s been a dream of mine since I can barely remember,” said the Leander Club rower.

“This season has been a rollercoaster in terms of getting myself re-established on the team.

“Within myself I have had goals to medal at Rio and ultimately I want to win at Rio.

“I have been trying to affirm myself and get myself into the best boat that I possibly can to achieve those goals.

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“It’s been interesting along the way, through the trials system that we do, so hopefully now it should be relatively plain sailing through to the Olympics.

“I feel like I’ve been trying to make up for lost time a little bit, in such a big team you have to be a real team member and valued within that team.”

Founded in 1818, Leander Club’s first Olympic medal came in 1908 and rowers from the Henley-based club have gone on to win 111 in the past 108 years.

Swann made the move to Leander Club after completing her studies at the University of Edinburgh six years ago and credits the club making her the rower she is today.

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“I made the GB rowing team through coming through the Leander Academy, so to have my name on the honours board as an Olympian would be such an honour,” she added.

“It’s an incredible club, it breeds success and I would love to be a part of that as an Olympic medallist.”

Also at the World Cup in Lucerne, former Lancaster Royal Grammar School pupil Scott Durant came fourth in the men’s eight alongside Matt Gotrel, Matt Langridge, Paul Bennett, Alan Sinclair, Andrew T Hodge, Tom Ransley, Will Satch and cox Phelan Hill.

Invesco Perpetual is a proud supporter of Leander Club. A 14-year relationship built on a shared philosophy and commitment to investing in people, nurturing talent and taking a long term approach, with 111 Olympic rowing medals won by Leander Club members since 1908.