Supermum Helen Glover’s miraculous Tokyo 2020 comeback can inspire a generation of British mothers, reckons rowing partner in crime Heather Stanning.

Glover and Stanning soared to back-to-back golds in the pair at London 2012 and Rio 2016 before Glover, married to TV star Steve Backshall and raising a young family, opted to hang up her oars.

The Cornwall star, 35, gave birth to twins last year but then made a shock return to the water ahead of a tilt at the Tokyo Games.

Glover, partnered by NHS doctor Polly Swann in the pair, secured her spot on the plane to Japan – becoming the first mother to row for Team GB – but was pipped to a memorable podium by the Canadian boat on Thursday.

Stanning says she couldn’t be prouder of what her close friend achieved and hopes her trailblazing exploits can provide an example for others to follow.

The 36-year-old, speaking on behalf of The National Lottery’s Inspiring Communities campaign, said: "It's really amazing and I'm super proud of what she's achieved and the journey she's been on.  

“These Games have been so different to the last ones but I think the whole Olympics is more than the Games itself.  

“Had the Games happened when they should have, we wouldn't have seen them in a boat because Helen was so close to having had the twins and was still wrapped up in nappies and breast feeding.

“She was struggling to find time to do some sort of training. Helen is inspirational for everyone, every generation, easily.” 

Glover’s return to the gruelling world of competitive rowing came as a shock but alongside Swann, 33, they captured European glory to catapult themselves into Olympic contention. 

It wasn’t the fairytale ending the mum-of-three was hoping for in Japan but Stanning, a two-time world champion with Glover, says polarised circumstances to 2012 and 2016 meant she was always fighting an uphill battle.

She added: “I think this experience of the Games is so different for [Helen] because when we did our Olympic campaigns, neither of us were married or with kids so our lives were just rowing and we absolutely dedicated everything to it.  

“Our time away from rowing was all about recovery for rowing but for Helen, this journey's been so different.  

“Rowing is what she did at the training centre, but step away from that and she was back into mum mode and that recovery was about looking after the kids and making sure they were happy, healthy and getting the experiences that they need.  

“It's such a different journey but for Helen, she's a phenomenal athlete and she's shown that she can juggle both of them and still perform at the highest level. She's inspired many people.” 

Glover is not the only mother at this year’s Games as a record number were selected for Team GB.

Archer Naomi Folkard, four-time Olympic champion Laura Kenny and road cyclist Lizzie Deignan are all mothers and Stanning, a mum herself, said: “Everyone's Olympics is something different. 

“It doesn't actually have to be the Olympic Games; it could be just going down and joining a rowing club and going to a local regatta and that's a phenomenal achievement that she's inspired people to go and do that. I think that's amazing. 

“I think this year of all years has taught us how health is so important and you've got to look after yourselves and for young mums, it's really important they look after themselves because to be the best mum you can, you have to be able to look after yourself and be the best version of yourself.”

Thanks to support from The National Lottery and its players, UK Sport are running an initiative to get more young people from urban areas to explore their potential in Olympic & Paralympic sport. Visit www.fromhome2thegames.com for more information.