Dorset rower Lexi Gill is preparing to represent Great Britain on the international stage after funding helped her overcome the financial barriers to pursuing her sporting ambitions.
A 17-year-old rower from Poole is set to represent Great Britain at the Youth Olympics after a £1,000 sports grant helped support her rapid rise in the sport. Lexi Gill, who has been rowing for only a short time, has secured her place on the international stage in beach sprint rowing, a fast-paced discipline that combines rowing with a sprint along the shoreline.
The funding, awarded through Dorset Community Foundation's Lord-Lieutenant's Fund for Young and Talented, helped pay for specialist rowing blades, as well as travel and accommodation costs associated with competitions.
Her selection for the Youth Olympics marks a significant milestone in her sporting journey.
From beginner to international competitor, Lexi had been rowing for just a year when she was invited to try beach sprints, a discipline in which competitors race to their boats, navigate a course around buoys before returning to the beach and sprinting to the finish line.
Her potential quickly became apparent, earning her an invitation to join the Beach Sprints Development Academy and opportunities to trial for the Team GB Development Pathway.
Her progress has now led to selection for the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, taking place from 31 October to 3 November 2026.
Before travelling to Senegal, Lexi is also due to compete at the 2026 World Beach Sprint Finals in China. Speaking about the opportunities ahead, Lexi said "competing at both events was something she had dreamed about since starting beach sprints".
She added that she was excited to compete internationally, test herself against some of the world's best young athletes and achieve the best results possible.
Funding helps remove financial barriers The £1,000 grant helped Lexi purchase her own rowing blades and cover the costs of travelling to competitions.
The Lord-Lieutenant's Fund for Young and Talented supports young people whose abilities could otherwise be held back by financial circumstances.
The fund is also supported by Wimborne-based engineering company Superior Seals.
Lexi said:
"The funding had enabled her to train with equipment that helped her perform at her best and attend competitions that played a crucial role in her selection for the Great Britain team. She said she was grateful for the support and proud to have the opportunity to represent her country".
Success on the international stage Lexi's progress has already seen her compete against talented young rowers from across Europe.
Her performances at the Welsh Championships, where she finished second in the women's singles time trial and fourth overall in the under-19 event, helped secure her selection for the Coupe de la Jeunesse in La Línea, Spain, last year.
Competing in Spain alongside a teammate, she finished seventh in the women's doubles time trial and seventh overall after reaching the quarter-finals. The experience gave her a taste of international competition and strengthened her ambition to progress further in the sport.
While her immediate focus is on the Youth Olympics, Lexi has ambitions of one day competing at the Olympic Games. With beach sprint rowing set to become an Olympic event in 2028, she has identified the 2032 Games as a longer-term target.
She said "owning her own rowing blades, alongside the medals she has already won, provides extra motivation to keep training"
Lexi also credited her coaches at Poole Rowing Club, British Rowing, her beach sprint teammates and the grants that have helped fund her progress, paying particular tribute to her mother for her support.
The Foundation backs young sporting talent Louise Balaam, chief executive of Dorset Community Foundation, said "Lexi was exactly the type of young person the grant programme was designed to support. She thanked Lord-Lieutenant Michael Dooley and Superior Seals for helping make the funding possible" .
Ms Balaam said it was exciting for the foundation to play a part in the sporting journey of a talented young person whose potential had been limited by circumstances.
She added that the foundation would be watching Lexi's progress with interest.
Lexi's story highlights the role that financial support can play in helping young athletes access specialist equipment and competitions that might otherwise be beyond their reach.
As she prepares for two major international competitions, the Poole teenager will have the opportunity to showcase her talent on the world stage — with her sights firmly set on what could come next.