Anna Watkins returns to rowing with Rio 2016 target

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London 2012 gold medallist Anna Watkins is back in training with a view to qualifying for the Rio Olympics - five months after having her second baby

Olympic champion Anna Watkins has announced her return to rowing and has spoken to Sportswomen of her ultimate goal.

Watkins, who won gold in the double sculls at London 2012, has been on the water since April but has just revealed her target of a place on Team GB for next year's Games in Rio.

“I’ve decided that I can’t stay away from this river too much longer, so I’m going to get back in a boat and have a crack at the Olympics,” the 32-year-old told Sportswomen.

“When you have a break, it’s usually a short break, I’ve had three years. I’ve got a huge, huge mountain to climb. If you have this option of doing the Olympics then it’s a pretty tough call to walk away from.”

One of Watkins’ main motivations for her comeback was to 'do it for fellow mothers'.

Anna Watkins (R) with Katherine Grainger after winning gold at the London 2012 Olympics

“Old worn out parents don’t write yourself off, let’s see what we can do," she said. “Maybe I was a bit washed up and had it after two kids but for those mums that’s one of the reasons why I have done it.

“To say we are not past it, we can still get out there and live life in the mainstream and the boys will be along for the ride.”

'Motivation'

On telling her Olympic gold medallist partner Katherine Grainger, Watkins said: “She thinks I’m a bit nuts but we have that in common! Obviously there is huge motivation to defend the title - that’s the golden outcome for me.”

Watkins and Grainger still hold the record of being unbeaten in each of their 23 races between 2010 and 2012.

Grainger came out of retirement in September 2014 and won bronze in the double sculls with Vicky Thornley at the European Rowing Championships in May.

To say we are not past it, we can still get out there and live life in the mainstream and the boys will be along for the ride.

Anna Watkins

That duo will team up again in September's World Championships and although Watkins has huge respect for Thornley, she still has ambition to link up again with Grainger to defend their double sculls title next year.

“The top rower in the British team at the moment is Vicky Thornley, she has done amazingly well," she said.

“I have to respect the level she is at, that’s her seat. Secondly I don’t know how my fitness is going to go. I have to be open-minded.

“In a dream scenario I would go back out and defend the title and obviously I will be training with that for motivation.”