A DOUBLE Olympic gold medallist gave young rowers at Hereford Cathedral School advice on how to pursue their dreams during a four-day training camp on the River Wye.

Heather Stanning, who is quadruple World rowing champion, double European champion and double Olympic gold medallist, spoke to the school’s boys’ and girls’ teams who are currently in training for the regatta season.

She told them that time management will be key if they want to pursue a career in rowing.

“I rowed at University but I always knew I wanted to join the Army,” she said.

“I went off to Sandhurst and went back to rowing – so I jumped between the two a little bit.

"I had to be really good at time-management and really good at working with people around me."

Pupil Tori Sykes, who has progressed in her rowing career at Hereford Cathedral School from cox for the boys’ rowing team to current girls’ rowing captain, said she was inspired by Stanning's visit.

“It is definitely inspirational and motivating that you can go so far doing something that you love," she said.

"A career doesn’t have to be something you go into because it’s a job.

"It’s nice that you can do something you actually love and still have that as your career.”

Patrick Morgan-Jones, who has rowed at Hereford Cathedral School since the age of 13, and wants to go to a university with a good rowing team, added: "It was an inspiration to meet Heather and to hear about her journey in rowing and to learn how she came to the sport.

"It proves that you have to have a go and take the opportunities that present themselves.

Pippa Fowler, Rowing Mistress at Hereford Cathedral School, said the commitment that rowing pupils put into their sport every week is phenomenal.

“Our rowers train three times a week or more – during school, after school and on Saturday mornings, and they compete at all levels,” she said.