The Olympic champion re-building her body in a bid for LA 2028

Imogen Grant, the British Olympic champion rower, is determined to return to the sport after winning gold in Paris. Rowing, the discipline in which she excelled, is being phased out of the Olympics, prompting her to contemplate retirement. However, after experiencing the remainder of the Paris Games, Grant felt compelled to give rowing another shot.

To compete in the 2028 LA Olympics, she will need to transition to open-weight rowing, a change that will require significant adjustments to her physique and diet. Unlike her lightweight rowing days, where she had to weigh no more than 57kg, open-weight rowing has no weight restrictions, meaning Grant must now gain weight and muscle mass to be competitive.

The 30-year-old vegan athlete is consuming around 3,500-4,000 calories daily, primarily through plant-based sources like tofu, chickpeas, beans, and vegan protein shakes. While Grant acknowledges the challenge of being smaller and weaker compared to her teammates, she is confident in her technique and efficiency, honed through years of lightweight rowing.

Her primary focus is to improve her strength and coordination within the boat. Grant's journey back to competitive rowing has been marked by a slow and steady process, combining rowing training with her work as a resident doctor. She has been selected for the World Championships in Amsterdam, where she joins a team of open-weight rowers, inspiring her to prove that smaller athletes can excel in rowing.