Lossiemouth Olympian puts international return on hold

Heather Stanning

The charge back to international competition for Moray’s Olympic rowing gold medallist has been put on temporary hold.

Lossiemouth’s Heather Stanning won gold in London alongside Helen Glover in 2012, before resuming her Army career including a spell in Afghanistan.

Heather resumed training with the GB rowing team in November and once again sitting alongside Glover won her international place in a senior trial earlier this year.

However, her hopes of returning to competition this month at the European Championships has been halted on medical advice after she had shown signs of fatigue, with coaches taking a long term view on her return.

GB rowing performance director Sir David Tanner said: “We have decided to take the pressure off, knock back her training and we think that will open the opportunity for a swift return to top form. We are sure Heather will be back on song soon.”

A disappointed Stanning said: “I’m very disappointed not to be travelling with the team to Belgrade and wish everyone luck there. “I am still training and will focus on the programme I’ve been set to regain intensity at the very top end.”

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