Grainger content for once with silver medal

aberdeen rower may continue in single sculls for 2010 world championships

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Katherine Grainger is ready to extend her single sculls project into 2010 after an unexpected success at the world rowing championships.

But the 33-year-old refuses to be rushed into a decision as she revels in the forgotten experience of actually celebrating a silver medal.

Twelve months ago, Grainger was in tears in Beijing after claiming a third consecutive Olympic silver, and the despair of that failure in the women’s quad almost forced her out of the sport altogether.

The Aberdonian decided to continue, but she wanted a new challenge and a tough year ended with a remarkable performance in Saturday’s final and a silver medal to treasure.

British rowing chief David Tanner expects Grainger will chase the elusive Olympic goal in a crew boat at London 2012.

But she has a nagging feeling victory in the single scull could have been hers.

And the desire for success could well persuade both Grainger and GB Rowing to keep her in the singles for the 2010 world championships in New Zealand.

“It is a great event to be in,” said Grainger.

“There are so many top individuals. I did it because I wanted a change, a different challenge. I wanted to be outside of my comfort zone and I wanted to learn about myself.

“It has been so valuable. It was a nice project and it worked out better than probably any of us expected. It might have some implications for next year.

“There is always so much behind each medal. Sometimes it is more than you could hope for, sometimes it is a disappointment.

“It is nice for a change to be happy with a silver. It has been a while since that has happened.

“The nicest thing has been the reaction from everyone, from our own country and from other nations.

“But there is always the little bit of you thinking you could have been one place better.”

The deadline for British rowing to make their call on next season’s line-up is not until the spring, with winter training and winter trials to complete before head coach Paul Thompson finalises his plans.

Thompson will have Grainger’s Beijing crew-mate Debbie Flood back in the national squad after she took a year out to work in the prison service.

While Flood contemplates a return to training at the national base in Caversham, Grainger has deadlines of the academic variety on her mind.

She may not become the next Taggart, but she is doing a PhD in homicide at University College London and her supervisor has already made an appointment to meet her in September.

“Today was the first day in months when I haven’t had to set the alarm clock and turn up for training in lycra,” she said.

“The result is still sinking in and then it will be nice to switch off for a while.

“I am going on holiday but not immediately. I have a deadline looming imminently.”