Rower Purchase steps up training

Purchase will stick with the lightweight double sculls as his event

Olympic rowing champion Zac Purchase is back in heavy training after a virus wrecked his 2009 season.

The 23-year-old who won the lightweight double sculls title with Mark Hunter in Beijing is now focussing on 2012.

"I started training again a few weeks ago now and it's been a good start," Purchase told BBC Gloucestershire.

"When you're in heavy training your body aches every day. I'm sure I'll get used to that eventually, but it is taking its toll for the moment."

"It's getting back into getting up at six in the morning and getting down to the lake and it's going to be a shock to the body having to do it every single day for the next few months," he added.

News of Purchase's virus broke in March, before he took the decision in June not to compete in 2009, with the London Olympics in 2012 being his main aim.

"I've had a great year off, it's been frustrating at times, but it's been what I definitely needed to do," he said.

"I've really enjoyed it and I'm really looking forward to racing on home turf in two-and-a-bit years time."

GB Rowing has set a deadline of 30 September for those who want to compete this year to return to training, with Beijing medallists Hunter, Tom James, Debbie Flood and Colin Smith all expected back after taking a year out.