U.S. Paralympic champion Erin Kennedy is anticipating an emotional welcome back for the European Rowing Championships, as she marks one year to the day since her breast cancer diagnosis.
When Erin Kennedy returns to the boat at the upcoming European Rowing Championships, the occasion will certainly be a joyful one.
“It’s been emotional, to be honest,” she told CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies. “It’s something I’ve been sort of dreaming of and kind of manifesting and trying to work towards for the last year. In the last year, the 30-year-old has undergone 15 rounds of chemotherapy – the final round only finishing in December – and in January underwent a double mastectomy before she was given the all clear.
“It’s been big. There’s been loads of highs and lows but I think I’ve tried to really approach it with gratitude for the people around me and I think with gratitude breeds positivity and optimism.
“And the teammate aspect that I’m so used to in a rowing boat, my team’s just got bigger and bigger, from my oncology team to my husband, my parents, my family, everyone. It’s been a big team effort to essentially get me to where I am and keep me on the right track.”