Heidi Long

Heidi’s family are her inspiration and super strength.

Alongside extended family and friends, they’ve been her unwavering support system, travelling to cheer her on from every corner of the country and globe. Her brothers have trained and pushed her on whenever she has trained from home and kept her humble when they race against each other. She would not be where she is today without their infinite understanding, love and ability to make everything enjoyable. Her dad passed away in 2023, and one of the last notes he left were the log-ins for the Olympic tickets and accommodation. He believed Heidi could do it before anyone knew what could be possible, and his legacy lives on her with every stroke she takes. Her dream has become their dream as well and she is determined to make her mum, dad and brothers proud.

Heidi was an active child and loved to play as many sports as she could. Her family would watch the Olympics and she dreamed of being an Olympian but never knew which sport it would be in. After signing up to every sport possible at the start of secondary school, she joined the rowing club. She loved the camaraderie and teamwork of rowing and soon joined Marlow Rowing Club. She was fortunate enough to be part of a talented, ambitious and fun junior women’s squad which won multiple national titles and fuelled her love for the sport as she progressed to compete in the Junior and U23 World Championships. Receiving a scholarship to the University of Virginia, USA, she was part of another passionate and exciting women’s programme which deepened her appreciation for the sport as a whole and the importance of sport for women.  She joined Leander after graduating from University with the ambition to race for Great Britain and after joining the team in 2021 won the European and World Championships, 2022, in the women’s four.

Beyond rowing, Heidi is passionate about using her platform to advocate for gender equality in sports. As a former captain of the University of Virginia’s women’s rowing team, she’s seen firsthand the transformative power of athletics for women, and is committed to breaking down barriers and inspiring the next generation of female athletes.