KAT COPELAND insists that while she might be out of sight rowing is not out of her mind with the London 2012 gold medallist already planning her return to the sport.

The 22-year-old Teessider shot into the nation’s conscious last summer when she secured double lightweight sculls gold at London 2012 alongside Sophie Hosking.

And despite committed to carry on the gruelling process for another three years to the Rio Games, Copeland, The Northern Echo’s joint Local Hero of 2012, has been taking a well-earned break.

But she has since returned to the boat and despite admitting she has some fitness issues to contend with, she is chomping at the bit.

“I started back training at the beginning of April so I am just trying to get fit as I had an extra-long three month break in Australia,” she said.

“That break has made me excited to just get back into training and even though I am unfit I am really enjoying it.

“To be honest even when I said I was thinking about it deep down I always knew I was going to get rowing.

“I love it and I am really lucky that I get to do it as my job. Going away and coming back I realise I have got it pretty good so there really isn’t any doubt.

“Now I am getting fit for the first set of trials in November for the 2013/14 season and then on to the World Championships for next year.”

While she was away Copeland missed last month’s selection trials, but she admitted to keeping an eye on what was going on as she bids to stay in the fold ahead of her long-awaited return.

“I didn’t watch the trials but I was looking on Twitter and I saw a lot of the girls who were trialling and I chatted to them and was keeping in the loop,” she added.

“I am really lucky in the fact that the girls I train with I don’t actually have to race against but at the end of the day when you are on the water you just have to get into race mode. That is your job and everyone wants to win and you just get on with it and I will be back to claim my spot later this year.”