GB Bobsleigh Athlete Receives Scholarship From Ellie Soutter Foundation To Holistic Athlete Mentoring Programme
Éire Rowland-Evans, an 18 year-old bobsleigh athlete based in Swansea, has been accepted onto The True Athlete Project’s Global Athlete Mentoring Programme.
The programme pairs Olympic, Paralympic and other elite senior athletes with aspiring juniors in a nurturing, year-long relationship. Together, mentor and mentee journey through TAP’s holistic curriculum, exploring themes like nature and connectedness, mindfulness, athlete identity, and more.
Éire has received a scholarship to the programme, thanks to funding from a private sponsor to The Ellie Soutter Foundation (TESF), founded by Tony Soutter to support talented young winter sport athletes through funding initiatives, mental health awareness and a full mind and body package, following the tragic death of his daughter Team GB athlete, Ellie Soutter on her 18th Birthday.
Éire said: “I am so excited to be working with both TAP and TESF. I am so thankful to have been given such an amazing opportunity to help me showcase and develop my skills in order to grow as an athlete, by learning from some of the best athlete mentors in the world. I can’t wait to get started!”
Éire achieved a world ranking of 20 and now aims to represent GB at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. Eire was also accepted for the program on the strength of her volunteering. She helped to raise £50,000 for Gloucestershire Young Carers, an organisation close to her heart, as well as supporting children with special needs. She was also an army cadet for 8 years, becoming the highest ranking cadet in her platoon.
She has been paired with current senior Wales hockey goalkeeper, Rose Thomas. Rose has 73 caps for Wales, has competed at a Commonwealth Games, and was the FIH Hockey World League Best Goalkeeper in 2016. Rose said: “I am thrilled to be partnering with such a talented and driven athlete. After a challenging year, it is more important than ever that athletes have mental health and well-being support. The TAP programme is a safe space to share their experiences and develop their skills to become a better person and athlete. I am looking forward to providing 100% support to Éire as we work through this holistic programme.”
Programme director, and two-time British Olympic fencer, Laurence Halsted adds: “The aim of the programme is to support the person behind the athlete, giving them someone to talk to about any challenges they might be facing - in sport or in life. Conveniently, when a person flourishes, so too does their performance!”
Éire and Rose are part of a diverse cohort of 68 athletes across 33 sports and 10 countries.
