Alan Campbell, from Coleraine, is Great Britain's best hope for an Olympic gold in the single scull since Jack Beresford won in Paris in 1924.

But, after a year interrupted by a knee injury, he faces a tough task against the likes of world champion Mahe Drysdale from New Zealand and Norwegian Olaf Tufte.

Twelfth in the men's quad in Athens, Campbell has not missed the final of a major regatta since moving into the single in 2005.

Last Christmas, maverick Campbell undertook a daily training regime that included a 6am run, shuttle runs with 50kg sandbags and an hour of cutting logs with a cross-cut saw.

The heats of the men's single start at 0750 BST on 9 August, with the winners moving into the semis four days later and the final on 16 August at 0840.