Katherine Grainger back in international rowing with bronze medal in Poland
Sunday 31 May 2015 21:32, UK
Katherine Grainger marked her international comeback with a bronze medal at the European Rowing Championships in Poland.
Grainger, who had not raced since her Olympic gold medal-winning performance at London 2012, partnered Vicky Thornley in the double sculls contest.
They finished third behind the hosts and Lithuania on a day when Britain took their medal haul to 10, six of them golds.
"We really are a work in progess, but to get on the podium is a start," the 39-year-old Grainger told the BBC.
Helen Glover and Heather Stanning set a new European record as they stormed to victory in the women's pairs race in Poznan.
Glover won the title last year with Polly Swann, but restored her partnership with fellow London 2012 champion Stanning in some style as they cruised to victory in six minutes, 58.280 seconds.
"It's good to keep them tallying them up and keep it exciting, but we don't go flat out on the start line thinking the aim of the day is to break records," Glover said.
"Our aim each day is to win the race and we never take that for granted."
Kat Copeland added European lightweight double sculls gold to her Olympic title as the 24-year-old and new partner Charlotte Taylor readily outpaced their German challengers by almost five seconds.
And there was also a gold medal for Imogen Walsh, who won the lightweight single scull race.
