Helene Raynsford

Helene was selected in the AW1x for the 2008 Paralympic Games and won a gold medal. 

Helene became World Champion in the AW1x in 2006 in her first year of international rowing. She started rowing in 2005 as part of a summer cross-training programme and subsequently took up rowing full-time with Guildford Rowing Club.

Helene is a medical biochemist but has put her career in Public Health on hold while she focuses on her rowing. She also works for the Youth Sport Trust as an Athlete Mentor, working with young people who are disengaged from education. In her spare time Helene enjoys film editing, photography and cooking.

A British indoor and outdoor rowing champion, Helene finished 5th at the 2007 World Championships to qualify the women's single for the 2008 Paralympic Games.

Helene previously competed as part of the GB Women's Wheelchair Basketball team who won Paralympic World Cup silver medals in 2005 and 2006.

Helene Raynsford is lottery funded through UK Sport.