Rowing: Double Olympic rowing champion Stanning retires

British rowers Heather Stanning (right) and Helen Glover celebrating after winning gold in the Women's Pair event during the Rio Olympics on Aug 12, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

(REUTERS) - Double Olympic rowing champion Heather Stanning has announced her retirement from the sport, with the Briton saying she had nothing left to prove.

This brings an end to her partnership with Helen Glover. The pair have not lost a race since the World Championships in Slovenia in 2011.

"I don't feel I've got anything else to prove to myself," the 31-year-old told the British media. "I wanted things to get back to normal before I made the decision firmly and I wanted to make sure it was the right decision."

Stanning and Glover became Britain's first female rowers to win back-to-back Olympic golds when they retained the coxless pairs title in Rio this year.

"It's about time I made the decision and it has helped me focus on what to do next, certainly with work and the army because I know that's something I want to go back to," Stanning added.

"It seemed the right time to make that decision."

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