KATHERINE Grainger, a silver medallist at the Past three Olympic Games, has committed herself to trying to go one better in 2012.
The Scottish rower, who turned 33 two days ago, consulted friends and family, coaches and support staff over the last few weeks before finally announcing her decision to carry on to the London Games.
"I'm not going (just] to experience the Olymp
ics," Grainger said yesterday. "It's about getting the best result.
"I've have been incredibly lucky to be in fantastic boats at the last three Olympics and get fantastic results. I knew I could only do it again, realistically, if I was at the peak of my abilities. It's not a decision I've taken lightly. One of the people I talked to was the head doctor and physio to see if physically it was possible. Everyone's come back very positive, and the level I need to be at is very achievable."
She is aware, all the same, that committing herself to 2012 does not mean that the coaches have to persist with her. The GB Rowing programme will continue as usual over the next four years, with anyone who underperforms in jeopardy of being jettisoned.
"If I'm physically fit and still enjoying it I will still be here in 2012," she continued. "The general decision, in rowing as in other Olympic sports, is based on four-year cycles, so from the coach's point of view there is an assumption that you'll be there.
"There's never going to be a guarantee. Things change, and people pick up injuries, for example, so you cannot merely presume you'll be there in four years' time.
"But I didn't say, 'Well, I'll continue for another year'. I want to go on to 2012.
"I did look at different options. I'm still studying my PhD and I had a few different avenues that I was looking into, but, like a lot of successful athletes, you have this incredible drive and you want to channel that in the right direction."
Britain's most successful female rower, Grainger resolved a short time ago to continue in her sport, but did not want to announce that fact immediately. "I think I decided a while ago it was probably what I wanted to do, but making that decision public with an official statement is different. I just wanted that little space to myself where I knew my decision but not have to deal with other people asking about it.
"I was quite open to the fact that someone might say, 'Why on Earth do you want to go on?'. But the vast majority of the people I talked to about it were very positive about my continuing. It was a really overwhelming response.
"There wasn't just one thing that helped me make my decision. What I had to be sure about was that I had the passion to continue at the top level.
"I've taken into account all the work, and all the sacrifices that you have to make at this level. I'm going to take every year as it comes. And I'm going to keep in mind that there are no guarantees."
Grainger will resume her rowing in earnest on 5 January, when the next national training camp begins. Not that she will be idle until then.
"I know the huge physical demands that will be placed on me there, and I know if I arrive at the camp unfit it will probably kill me. So over the next couple of weeks I'll keep doing what I've been working on over the past couple of weeks and getting my fitness levels up to where they should be again. It's a preparation period for January, really."
Besides resuming full training next month, Grainger will also take up her PhD in law again. She suspended her studies for all of 2008 in order to concentrate on the countdown to the Olympics, but believes that from now on it will be beneficial to combine her academic and sporting interests.
"I've taken this year out, but things are settling down to normal now so the PhD starts up again in January. From an athlete's point of view it's good that I have something else besides rowing to be interested in. And the coaches recognise it will make me a more rounded and a happier athlete."
The World Championships in Poland at the end of August are the main event on the rowing calendar next year. She already has four gold medals from previous world championships, although to the wider public she is still best known for coming second. Having resolved to carry on to 2012, she has given herself one last chance to change that.
