Rio 2016: London gold has no bearing in Brazil for Kat Copeland

Copeland and Sophie Hosking created one of the stories of London 2012 by winning gold and at just 25 years of age Copeland will now look to defend her rowing crown alongside new partner Charlotte Taylor.

Copeland insists there is no burden of expectation upon the duo given that so much has changed in the four years since London 2012. Copeland reasoned: “I just think four years is such a long time.

“In a way, no one really cares (about being defending champion) and I don’t really care – someone else is going to win eventually so it’s not a thing like ‘oh God I might lose it’ because in the end I am going to lose it.

“That’s fine.

“Olympic champion is something that I can have forever but to me it’s not really relevant what happened in London, it’s like this summer is the only thing that matters to me.”

Copeland also revealed she feels blessed to have found such a dedicated new partner in Taylor, adding: “It sounds a bit corny but I just feel really lucky because a bit of it is just chance.

“There’s only two of you so you need to click together and I just feel so lucky that she came around at the right time and we got put together because we just click really well.

“She just brings so much to the table. She helps me a lot and physically and mentally she is one of the toughest people I know.”