Aberdeen rower Katherine Grainger has become the most decorated female British Olympian of all time after winning silver in the women’s double sculls with partner Vicky Thornely at Rio 2016.
It was a fifth Olympic medal for Grainger who won gold at London four years ago and silvers at Sydney, Athens and Beijing.
Grainger and Thornley came agonisingly close to gold but were pipped at the end by Poland’s Magdalena Fularczyk-Kozlowska and Natalia Madaj in a very close contest.
The journey to Brazil has been bumpy, with the 40-year-old and 28-year-old Thornley deciding to abandon the double sculls project midway through the season, only to reform having failed to qualify for seats in the eight.
Their selection in the double sculls was confirmed a month and a half ago and the duo have impressed in Rio, finishing second in both the heats and semi-finals at the Lagoa.
Grainger said: “It’s one of those races at the start of the regatta you’d have taken with both hands because we led most of the way. It was a little tinge of what might have been.
“Considering what we’ve been through the last couple of years, I’m so proud of what we’ve done. It’s a medal that not many would have put money on so I’m pleased.”
