Great Britain’s greatest ever female Olympian, Aberdeen rower Katherine Grainger, could be denied a fifth Games appearance in Rio this summer.
The Scot, pictured, memorably won gold at the 2012 London Olympics in the double sculls with Anna Watkins after silver medals at the three previous Games.
Retirement followed but, after a two-season break, Grainger returned to racing only for her double sculls partnership with Vicky Thornley to be dissolved in May as the duo tried to earn places in the women’s eight.
Grainger failed to make the grade at a closed door trial last week and her only chance of securing a place in Rio now lies with the double sculls.
GB Rowing confirmed there is still a place for a British double scull and emphasised, while team announcements will be made today, final nominations can be delayed until mid-July, leaving the door ajar for Grainger.
The 40-year-old is not ready to throw in the towel on her Olympic dream and said: “We’re still in the middle of decisions and looking at options so I won’t be speaking to anyone just yet.”
A spokesperson for British Rowing added: “Selection in sport is always an emotive issue and never more so than in an Olympic year. Coaches have to make hard decisions. British Rowing is confident the process we have followed for both Vicky Thornley and Katherine Grainger has been appropriate.
“They were clearly disappointed with their performance in the double scull at the European champion-ships in early May.
“They asked to be considered instead for selection to the women’s eight, which is already a proven medal-winning combination.
“We opened up a process and gave them the opportunity. They have not been successful and we are now looking at the next steps in a selection process which is ongoing.”
While Grainger awaits her fate, a record number of Scots will be named for Rio today.
Olympic champion Heather Stanning of Lossiemouth, who has maintained an unbeaten European and world partnership with Helen Glover in women’s pairs since they won Britain’s first gold medals at the 2012 Games, will be named.
Other Scots in the mix for inclusion are Alan Sinclair of Inverness, who took bronze at last year’s world championships and has featured strongly in this year’s men’s Olympic squad, and Edinburgh’s Helen Bennett, who took a world silver last year.
Kirriemuir’s world champion Sam Scrimgeour and Inverness’ former European champion Imogen Walsh seem likely to miss out as neither have been able to make the step up into Olympic-class boats.
