A NORTH Olympic medal hopeful will be cheered by thousands of people in her home town when she goes for gold at the weekend.

Rower Alison Mowbray, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, will compete in the final of the women's quadruple sculls on Sunday.

After she finished tenth in the women's single sculls at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the town named a building in her honour.

Whatever the outcome of the latest race, Miss Mowbray can expect similar treatment when she returns from Greece.

The 33-year-old is being supported at the games by her mother, Margaret, and younger sister, Catherine.

Speaking from Greece, Mrs Mowbray, a retired GP from Richmond, said: "I cannot quite believe we are here. This is a huge thing for our family.

"All the other girls in Alison's team are ten years younger and they call her grandmother.

"This could be her last chance to compete and I know how desperately she wants a medal.

"I will certainly be nervous watching on Sunday."

Mrs Mowbray, 61, said her daughter never showed any signs she was destined to become an Olympian as a child.

She said: "She had no sports skills at all, but she did have a lot of stamina. She would run and bike and she was always very determined."

Family friend Dr Mark Hodgson worked with Mrs Mowbray and her late husband, Dr Martin Mowbray, at the Bridge House surgery in Aldbrough St John, near Richmond.

He said: "Everyone here at the surgery is thrilled for Alison and her family. I am sure her father would be very proud of her."

The former Richmond School pupil now lives in Buckinghamshire, near training facilities on the River Thames.

Richmond deputy mayor Clive World said she was still considered a local girl.

He said: "I met Alison when she switched on the Christmas lights a couple of years ago. She is such a nice lady and so is her family."

Richmond's other Olympian, swimmer Joanne Jackson, failed to make it through Sunday's 400m freestyle heats.