With two Olympic gold medals to his name, Alex Gregory has announced his retirement from rowing, 12 years after first donning the red, white and blue of Great Britain.
Gregory, who won men's four gold at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, has decided to hang up his oar, having first taken up the sport as a teenager while completing his A-levels.
After graduating from GB Rowing Team's Start Programme, he made his GB debut in 2004 at the World Under-23 Championships, before moving up to the senior ranks in 2006.
He was selected as a reserve for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games before switching from sculling to sweep, and won his first World Championships crown in 2009, adding another two years later.
But his golden moment came on the historic 'Super Saturday' at the London 2012 Olympic Games, triumphing in the men's four alongside Pete Reed, Tom James and Andrew Triggs Hodge.
He went on to win three further World titles in successive years, before bowing out of the sport in style in Rio, defending his Olympic title alongside Moe Sbihi, George Nash and Stan Louloudis under the shadow of Christ the Redeemer.
"I've been incredibly lucky to pursue something I love for so long," he said. "Rowing has taught me so much about myself and those around me.
"Through the continued support of the GB Rowing Team, family and friends, I found a way to reach my goals.
"I will miss being a part of something very rare and very special, especially in this incredibly successful era of British Olympic sport.
"It has been a privilege to represent my country in rowing and I'll hold onto this time with very fond memories.
"I've only ever felt supported on my rowing journey so to coaches who have pushed and guided me, friends who have encouraged and understood me, public who have continually sent messages of support, crew mates who have pulled me across the line and family who have never faltered - thank you!"
Gregory now plans on spending time with his partner, Emily, and their three children - Jasper, Daisy and Jesse - having missed two of their births due to his sporting commitments.
"One of the beautiful things about rowing is creating something that is more than the sum of it's parts," he said.
"It's this challenge and struggle alongside others that I'll miss the most.
"I'll be supporting my friends now from the comfort of home and enjoying every minute of their success, while spending more time with my own family."
Sportsbeat 2017