By Sarah Holt

Coode sweats it out behind Pinsent at the Athens Olympic Games

Olympic gold rowing medallist Ed Coode revealed he could return to the sport to contest the world championships, which will be held at Eton in 2006.

Coode decided to stop rowing for at least a year after the Olympics but now he says the chance to compete on home waters could be too tempting to ignore.

"It will be a big carrot for me to carry on for another two years just for that," Coode told BBC Sport.

"I'll take a year off, then we'll see, but I might do it."

Coode won his first Olympic medal in Athens as part of the men's coxless fours alongside Matthew Pinsent, James Cracknell and Steve Williams.

Some of the proudest moments of my life have come through rowing but you make a lot of sacrifices Olympic gold medallist Ed Coode

While the rest of the quartet have been cagey about their future plans, Coode publicly announced he was taking time out from the daily grind of the sport.

But the 29-year-old admits he has not decided to turn his back on the sport for good.

"When they start racing in the summer and when I start hearing results I will definitely want to get back into it," Coode added.

"I spoke to Sir Steve Redgrave and he said the best world championships he ever went to were in 1986 in Nottingham.

GB stars parade through London

"We haven't had major international rowing races in this country since and it will be brilliant to have the home crowd supporting you.

"Some of the proudest and best moments of my life have come through rowing but make you make a hell of a lot of sacrifices.

"And I would like to see what else I can do in this life rather than always sitting in a boat.

"But I'll keep myself fit over the next year. I don't have any rigid plans and we'll see how I go."