Rachel Cawthorn

Progress towards 2012 "I missed a lot of training in the winter because I was ill but I'm back now and it all seems to be going well. Earlier this year I never expected to be at the World Cup events in Germany and the Czech Republic, but I started training a month before and so was able to compete. In my first race I won bronze, and came fourth in my second - that wasn't at all what I was expecting so I was really pleased. On the other hand, after that I was confident going into the European Championships and a bit of weed got caught around my rudder and things didn't go well. "The world championships in Hungary acts as the Olympic qualifying event so my training up until then will be crucial for my bid to make 2012. If I'm going to win a medal then it will all be about my training over the next year. "I really need to work hard on a number of aspects of my game - physical and psychological - if I'm going to get on to the podium. I'm hoping that being at home will be an advantage, but anything could happen." Biography Born 3 November 1988 Guildford, Surrey Educated George Abbott School, Guildford Hobbies I really like making things - so, sewing, cooking and gardening. And then just normal things like going to the cinema and shopping with my friends Favourite band It's probably Noah and the Whale at the moment Favourite film Harry Potter, I am a big fan of the books too. Oh - and on television I also really like watching Glee. I love going to the theatre - I went to see Much Ado About Nothing in the Guildford Castle grounds last night Training "I train three times a day, six days a week. Generally I do two paddling sessions a day and normally at this time of year we practise on the course. And then usually the third session is gym. Something I think is important is keeping busy with other things as well. I think it gets a bit too intense if you've got nothing to take your mind off of training." Key statistics 2007 Won a silver medal in the K3 at the youth Olympics 2009 Won bronze at the world championships in the K1 500m race. Won bronze in the same event at the European championships, where she also won a gold in the K1 1,000m. Won golds in the K1 500m and 1,000m at the World Cup 2011 World Cup bronze in the K1 500m Olympic countdown August 2011 World championships, Hungary September 2011 Olympic test event at Eton Dorney May 2012 World Cup in Germany, will also act as Olympic qualifying event June 2012 World Cup in Russia July 2012 Opening ceremony of Olympic Games 6-11 August 2012 Kayak sprint events, London 2012 Olympics Venue Eton Dorney, near Windsor Castle, will play host to the rowing and kayak sprint events in 2012