Grainger considering fourth shot at Olympic gold

To retire or not to retire - that is the question for Marlow’s Olympic hero Katherine Grainger.

The veteran rower was pipped to the finishing line by a resurgent Chinese team in the women’s quad sculls on the rowing lake at Shunyi, China.

But the triple Olympic silver medallist may be about to surprise the rowing world - and herself - by postponing her retirement until after 2012.

Following in the footsteps of Sir Steve Redgrave, who famously said that someone could shoot him if he went anywhere near a boat again, after claiming his fourth gold medal in Atlanta.

It seems that Grainger may have enough energy in the tank for another tilt at golden glory on home soil.

Is there still some unfinished business on the rowing lake for the veteran?

“Who knows, there are people out there who definitely want to see it happen and hopefully it will,” she said.

“The fact that it is a home Olympics is a huge attraction, very few athletes get the opportunity to do that.

“Of course it is still a possibility and a huge attraction, but the decision needs to be made away from the excitement.”

There is no shortage of support for this personable Olympian, the nearly woman, the bridesmaid but never the bride.

Standing aboard a  welcome home bus for Scottish Olympic heroes in Edinburgh, alongside cyclist Chris Hoy, Grainger heard a cry from the flag-waving crowd: ‘Katherine, Katherine, next time Katherine.’

“To continue in this sport you have to have a burning passion and desire,” she said.

“If I was to make that decision at the Olympics with all the glitz and glamour of course I would say yes.

“It is an incredible event to be part of but the real decision has to be made on a cold, wet, November morning when it’s pitch black and you’re starting from scratch again.”

Standing amidst a sea of happy smiling faces, Grainger looked more pensive and reflective than the younger athletes.

She didn’t carry her weighty silver medal around her shoulders and is clearly still coming to terms with what was a crippling, heartbreaking loss.

A crucial cog in the sculls team - alongside Marlow’s Annie Vernon, Debbie Flood, and Frances Houghton - Grainger admitted her silver medal will always be tinged with disappointment.

Four years of dedicated training had counted for nothing and had failed to produce the one thing Grainger wanted above all other things - a gold medal.

“It was a massive disappointment because we led for the majority of the race,” she said. “When we crossed the line there was disbelief that it was over.

“I still believe we had the crew and the coaching to win that race.
“The medal will always be tinged with disappointment but it doesn’t take time to feel proud.

“It has been great to be a part of this team and we have achieved so much together.”