A rower from Chalfont St Peter who won bronze at the Paris Olympics this week has dedicated the medal to her father, describing the win as ‘his legacy living on’.

Heidi Long, 27, came third in the women’s coxless eight alongside Emily Ford, Holly Dunford, Lauren Irwin, Eve Stewart, Annie Campbell-Orde, Hattie Taylor and Rowan McKellar on Saturday, August 3.

The Chalfont St Peter native said the win was made poignant by the excitement of her father, who died in 2023, for the Paris Olympics – with one of the last notes he left her showing log-in details for tickets to the games and plans for accommodation.

Long, who trained Marlow Rowing Club, joined Team GB in 2021 and won gold in the European and World Championship as part of the women’s four in 2022 before claiming bronze in the same race a year later.

Speaking after her win at the weekend, she said: “(My father) was always my biggest believer and knew this was possible.

“It’s his legacy really, and I hope it lives on.”