Rowe went to school at Hamble Community Sports College before attending Barton Peveril Sixth Form College. Her father, Trevor King, is a former Biathlete who competed in two Winter Olympics. She has a younger sister. Initially a keen competitive Swimmer for her school and Triathlete, with Chapel Tri-Stars junior triathlon club, in 2005 she was tested by the British Cycling at her School and was then selected to join the Talent Team, which was at that time part of British Cycling's Rider Route. Later that year she joined i-Team.cc cycling club where she trained and raced regularly at The Mountbatten Centre Velodrome in Portsmouth. In 2009, she came down with glandular fever whilst training to become an elite Cyclist, leading to worries about her career being over. She recovered, however, and was later chosen to compete at world champion level in late 2011 and after setting world record with her pursuit team-mates she was chosen for Team GB.