“I didn’t want Breast Cancer to define me, but ironically, it has more than anything else in my life. The difference is, I have written the narrative.”
In May 2022, Erin was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast cancer when she was 29, just nine months after winning Gold at the Tokyo 2021 Games. Fiercely determined that this wasn’t going to define her, she continued to race and compete for Great Britain.
Just four days after her diagnosis, she won her first ever World Cup in Serbia and eleven weeks later, after two rounds of EC chemotherapy, Erin won gold at the European Championships. She then made the difficult decision to step back from the team to focus on her treatment.
Erin finished 15 rounds of chemotherapy in December 2022 and the following month, had a double mastectomy to complete her treatment. Erin received the all clear on the 10th March 2022 and returned to international competition exactly a year to the day of finishing her treatment, winning her third European Championships in May 2023. Erin then led the crew to an unbeaten season in 2023 and has qualified the boat for Paris 2024.
Just 19 months after finishing chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, Erin Kennedy won Gold alongside her teammates in the Mix 4+ at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Erin has documented her cancer journey and was honoured with an OBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to Rowing and Breast Cancer.
“I didn’t to lose my identity. I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other, trying to get better.”
— Erin Kennedy, during an interview with BBC Breakfast
Raising Awareness
Erin has used her platform to raise awareness of breast cancer in young women. She has documented every stage of her journey on social media from fertility preservation to the challenges of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy.
Her posts are open, honest and positive and candidly show just what it is like to be a young woman with breast cancer whilst also pursuing her goals.
Erin’s story has been featured in the global press, from Brazil to Australia and has captured the hearts of the nation. She has appeared on every major British news outlet as well as CNN, NBC and the Olympic Channel.
Would you like to hear more?
Erin is passionate about sharing her experiences with others, inspiring positivity and uplifting others. Her unique insight into applying lessons from High Performance Sport into a challenging personal experience is relatable and encouraging.
If you would like to learn more about Erin’s story, speak to her about your upcoming event or have an opportunity to share, please get in touch.
