2012 London Olympic Debbie Flood targeting Games

Rower Debbie Flood 30 years old who lives in Henley and she won a silver medal in the woman's quadruple scull. Now she is targeting the 2012 London Olympics after taking a year off from the sport to qualify as a prison officer.

She told BBC Berkshire: "A year out was fantastic and entirely what I required.

"But I want to prove I am capable of the standard needed to make the team so I'm hopeful I can be in the quad."

Flood added: "In my year off, I did perhaps one session every other day rather than the usual three a day.

"This made a big difference. I came back into rowing and thought I was fit and strong but I realised it is all relative to what you need to be for Olympic standards."

Flood, a world champion in 2006 and 2007, has entered various events since returning to full time rowing to improve her performance and fitness.

Flood said, "There was a really big gap between me and the other rowers. In the 2010 I started off World Cup series and came ninth which was a starting place for me. Then I increased my speed throughout the season and trained more and ended up in Lucerne where I made the 'A' final after coming fifth, which was a really nice result for me."

Planning go ahead for London 2012 temporary venues

The Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich will host the Olympic Shooting events and Shooting and Archery events during the Paralympic Games. North Greenwich Arena will host Artistic Gymnastics, Trampoline Gymnastics and the Basketball finals during the Olympic Games, followed by Wheelchair Basketball during the Paralympic Games.

The plans include temporary shooting ranges and seating stands at the Royal Artillery Barracks and the northern part of Woolwich Common. There will be four temporary indoor ranges and three temporary open air ranges for the qualifying rounds and finals of Olympic events.
During the Paralympic Games the outdoor ranges will be removed and replaced with temporary Archery ranges. Work to install the temporary facilities will begin early next year. After the Games the temporary facilities will be removed and the site will be returned to its former use and condition.

Olympic Delivery Authority Chief Executive David Higgins said: ‘The Royal Artillery Barracks will be a fitting venue for the Shooting events at the London 2012 Games and our temporary works will help us deliver the best possible facilities for athletes. Securing planning permission is an important step forwards and keeps us on track to start installing the temporary measures on site early next year.’