A rower is carrying the best wishes of County Durham with her as she goes for Olympic glory.
Lauren Irwin, from Peterlee, is representing Team Great Britain in the Women’s Eight final this Saturday, marking a historic achievement for her hometown.
Peterlee has never had an Olympian until now, making Lauren’s journey not just a personal triumph but also a landmark moment for her community.
The 25-year-old athlete and her team secured their spot in the final after a strong performance in Monday’s heat. They are now set to challenge the current world champions Romania, in a bid for gold.
Durham County Council has rallied behind Irwin, celebrating her accomplishments ahead of the crucial race.
Councillor Joan Nicholson, Chair of Durham County Council, expressed the region’s pride, saying: “We would like to wish the very best of luck to Lauren ahead of the finals this weekend.
“Lauren is a shining example of the sporting talent we have in the region, and it is absolutely fantastic that someone from County Durham is part of the team representing Great Britain at this year’s Olympics.
“The team did a fantastic job in their first heat so I am sure they will be very proud of their achievements on Saturday.”
Lauren’s journey began at St Bede’s secondary school in Peterlee, where she transitioned from swimming to rowing.
Her passion for the sport deepened during her time at Durham University, leading her to become a key figure in British rowing.
Lauren has been a member of Chester-le-Street Amateur Rowing Club since she was 14. The club, based at the council’s Riverside Complex, has played a crucial role in her development, helping her achieve 13 international accolades, including gold at the World Championships and World Cup, and silver at the European Championships.
Club captain, Arran Lewcock, said: “The two big emotions coming out of the club are the pride from all of us that knew her as a teenager making her way in the sport and then the inspiration she gives to all of our younger rowers who now can see a pathway from rowing at Chester-le-Street to taking part in the Olympic games.
“We will be watching her final and cheering her on together as a club on Saturday morning, anyone who would like to join us is more than welcome.”
Historically, rowing has been dominated by individuals from private schools and people from the South of England. Lauren’s success is a significant shift, bringing regional diversity to the sport.
She joins the ranks of Sam Redgrave, from Gateshead who won Olympic silver in the women's four on Wednesday (August 1), and North East legends such as Kat Copeland, from Ashington, who won gold in London 2012, and Jess Eddie, from Durham, who earned silver in Rio.
“It’s just so cool to think I’m going to be part of that group. They’re rowing legends, and it’s just cool to have my name amongst those types of people,” Lauren told The Northern Echo before heading to Paris.
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“I feel so lucky to be a part of that. It’s good to get the North-East on the map again and show that there’s lots of different ways to get into this sport.”
Lauren will be competing as part of the GB Women’s Eight team at 9.50am on Saturday, August 3, at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in Paris.
More information about Chester-le-Street Amateur Rowing Club can be found at www.clsarc.org.
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