Olympic gold medallist Sophie Hosking is ready to swap her oars for textbooks - although she admits the lure of the water is still strong.
Hosking joined forces with Kat Copeland to win lightweight double sculls gold at London 2012 but hasn't competed since crossing the line at Eton Dorney.
Copeland has already reiterated her desire to compete in Rio but 27-year old Hosking was absent from last weekend's GB Rowing trials in Caversham, as she looks to new challenges.
“I am going to finalise my final decision [in regards to the future] in the next few months but I am erring on the side of retirement," she said.
“I have taken some time out from rowing and have been doing some charity cycling events.
“I have got a place to start studying law in September, so I am going to do that. It is going to be a nice challenge and I am really excited about the opportunities that will bring.
“The team have already competed in a World Cup at Sydney and watched that because I still have a lot of friends in the team and it was great to see them go out and compete again.
“I kept an eye on how the selection races went but I don’t feel like I was missing out not being there, so I'm happy with my decision."
Hosking was talking at the launch of the National Lottery Anniversary Run, which will see more than 10,000 members of the public run in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Stadium on July 21.
This will be the first event at the iconic venue since London 2012 and Hosking believes it is a great way to give something back to the public after they cheered her and her Team GB team-mates to glory in the summer.
“It is great to be able to come down here and support this event and help keep up the legacy of the Games as well,” she added.
“The British public really made the Games and they really got behind it last summer and it is a great way to keep those memories alive.
“And it is also a great way to give something back. The crowd at Eton Dorney was immense and really helped us rowers and this is a tiny way to say thank you to everyone.”
© Sportsbeat 2013