A FEMALE rower from Richmond is hoping to make her last year in the sport the best by winning an Olympic gold medal.

Alison Mowbray has been chosen alongside Rebecca Romero, Frances Houghton and Debbie Flood to represent Great Britain in the women's quadruple sculls in next month's Athens Olympics.

The 33-year-old has been training with the squad for four years and qualified for this year's team in April.

"Last year was the quad's best result when we came fourth in the world championships," said Mowbray.

"After the championships we trained individually through the winter. We have to compete in trials individually and I came third in the singles, so I was picked for the team."

The former Richmond School pupil now lives in Buckinghamshire and trains at a variety of places, including the River Thames, out of a scout camp and at Eton College's new 2,000m rowing lake.

She said: "We report for duty six days a week and train together. We do one big training session for about 1hr 45min and then we have breakfast together.

"We then have a shorter session which lasts for about an hour. I then come home for lunch and a sleep.

"We meet up again at 4pm for another big session on the rowing machines, weights or the water

"On Sundays, I usually have the day off and train individually."

Athens will be Mowbray's second appearance in the Olympics. She finished tenth in the women's singles at Sydney four years ago.

"After Sydney, I decided to row for another four years because I have always wanted to go to the Olympics and win a medal.

"I've put a lot of pressure on myself and I think this is going to be my last year.

"We competed in three international regattas for the World Cup Series and won it. We raced all of the opposition and at some point have beaten them all.

"It looks like we will be going to Greece in a medal position and we are aiming for the gold."

Mowbray, whose parents still live in Richmond, was introduced to rowing relatively late.

While studying microbiology at Liverpool University, she joined the rowing club and found she loved the sport straight away.

"You don't have to be good at other sports to be good at rowing. You have to be fit and you use your legs and back more than your arms. You also have to be mentally tough for racing."

While studying for a PhD at Cambridge, Mowbray went to a Commonwealth regatta. She then competed in national trials and was picked for the British squad in 1998.

"I'm very excited about the Olympics. My mum, Margaret, and my younger sister, Catherine, are coming out.

"Who knows what I'll be doing next year. I'm currently a supply teacher when I'm not rowing so I might teach full time."