Parenthood changed my perspective - para-rower

Lauren Rowles (right) pictured with partner Jude Hamer and son Noah, says parenthood has changed her as an athlete

A two-time Paralympic rowing champion, who is hoping to become the first British rower to win three Paralympic golds, says parenthood has changed her perspective.

Lauren Rowles MBE, from Bromsgrove, will compete with new rowing partner, Gregg Stevenson, in the mixed doubles sculls for Paris this summer.

Her partner, Paralympic basketball player Jude Hamer, gave birth to their son Noah in March.

"He's added a new dimension to me as a person, and now as an athlete and what I do out on that water. I definitely think about him when I'm out on that water," she said.

"When the weather's poor, or the training sessions are hard, you think in those moments about doing it for your children," she told BBC Midlands Today.

"He's been the best thing that's ever happened to us.

For Ms Rowles, seeing her family in the stands as she wins is a dream.

"I want nothing more in this world than to have that moment, and to show him as well what his mum can do."

Ms Rowles' first two Paralympic golds were with Laurence Whiteley, who retired after the Tokyo games.

His decision left Rowles feeling lost.

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"I was left feeling as though 'well, what do I do next? Do I retire? What happens now?'" she said.

"I have to go in a mixed double, so I had to look for another guy.

"I think for me, I only had one guy in mind, and that was Gregg Stevenson, who I'm now rowing with," she added.

The pair have things in common, including being parents and both previously doing different sports - Ms Rowles was a wheelchair athlete, and Mr Stevenson was a skier.

"I want to contribute to that moment in sport that people talk about," said Ms Rowles.

"I want to make Paralympic sport mainstream, make rowing more mainstream, and para rowing more mainstream."