Katherine Grainger, who along with the swimmer Rebecca Adlington is Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian with four medals, could miss out on a record fifth Olympic medal after failing to claim a place in the women’s eight boat for Rio de Janeiro, according to reports.
Grainger and Vicky Thornley were competing for seats in the eight after their double scull was disbanded after a poor performance at last month’s European Championships in Germany. Each missed the cut by less than half a second.
The Olympic squad will be named on Thursday and Grainger, who came out of two years’ retirement in 2014, and Thornley’s only hope of competing in Rio is for their double scull to be reformed or they are selected as reserves.
British Rowing said in a statement: “Selection in sport is always an emotive issue and never more emotive than in Olympic year. Coaches have to make hard decisions.
“British Rowing is confident that the process that we have followed for both Vicky Thornley and Katherine Grainger has been appropriate.
“They were clearly disappointed with their performance in the women’s double scull at the European Championships in early May.
“Whilst we had not lost confidence in them and felt they were still a potential medal boat 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 next steps in a selection process which is ongoing.”
