As we continue to celebrate female Olympians throughout the 2020 Tokyo Games, the incredible pairing of Katherine Grainge and Anna Watkins sits high on the list of Team GB’s iconic female performances.
Before coming together for their partnership, both rowers had already tasted Olympic success, with Grainger winning silver at the 2000 Sydney Games, the 2004 Athens Games and the 2008 Beijing Games, competing in the quadruple sculls and coxless pair.
Watkins had also received her fair share of Olympic glory, winning a bronze medal at the Beijing Games in the double sculls with Elise Laverick.
First joining together in the double scull in 2010, Watkins and Grainger maintained an unbeaten run for the whole season, coming away as World Champions in New Zealand that same year.
This unbeaten run continued for another season, the rowers taking home another World Championship gold and heading into the 2012 London Games in fine form.
In the semi-final of the double sculls, they set a new Olympic record and came away from the final with the gold medal in their only Olympic games together.
Despite only one Olympic Games as a pair, their win was iconic in a games that took the heart of the nation, solidifying them as two of Team GB's most pivotal athletes of the 2012 Games.
Watkins was awarded an MBE for her achievements, with Grainger awarded a DBE in 2017 for her charity work and sporting efforts.
Grainger is now Chair of UK Sport, bringing her expertise as Team GB’s second most decorated female Olympian.
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