Katherine Grainger has described her silver in Rio as the "adversity medal" after defying the odds to become Britain's most decorated female Olympian.
The 40-year-old has now medalled at five Olympic Games, claiming silvers at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, and winning gold at London 2012 before adding to her medal haul in Rio.
Grainger took a break from rowing after London 2012 only to return to the sport two years later with a view to reaching the Rio Olympics.
But Grainger and double sculls partner Vicky Thornley only had their spot at Rio confirmed six weeks before the Games, making the task facing the pair even harder.
"It was more than a distraction because if you don't know you are going to an Olympics then it's quite hard to focus on it to some extent," Grainger told Tuesday's Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ live from Rio.
Anna Watkins (R) and Grainger celebrate winning gold at London 2012
"I knew there was going to be a lot of physical and mental challenges coming back to being a full-time athlete and getting myself back to where I needed to be - and my standards and expectations were higher than they have ever been.
"The first year was tough but this last year was also tough because of the uncertainty and the selection issues - I didn't know what boat I was going to be in or if I was even going to be in a boat.
"This medal was the adversity medal. It was the hardest and the toughest one to keep believing that it might be possible to come back and win."
Resource: skysports.com
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