Olympic rower. Born into a navy family in Yeovil (Somerset), Stanning lived in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Hampshire before a family home was established in Lossiemouth (Moray). She was educated at the nearby Gordonstoun School and studied sports technology at the University of Bath on an army scholarship. Thereafter she attended Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery. After silver medals in the Rowing World Championships of 2010 and 2011, she gained a gold at the London Olympics of 2012. A pillar box in Lossiemouth was painted gold in celebration and she was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List of 2013.
