Rowing: Searle on course for Britain return

Greg Searle has reignited his Olympic flame and rows for the GB eight in today's World Cup in Munich (GETTY IMAGES)

Greg Searle has rolled back the years to complete the first step of a remarkable Olympic comeback by winning a place in the Great Britain rowing squad.

Searle, who won gold with brother Jonny and cox Garry Herbert at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and a bronze in Atlanta four years later, had been in retirement for a decade. But the 38-year-old could not shake the desire to compete in a home Olympics and he returned to training last year, initially on his own, in a bid to force his way back into national colours.

British head coach Jurgen Grobbler is not a man for sentiment but Searle proved his worth by coming through three rounds of national trials. Searle will race in the men's eight at the first World Cup regatta in Bled, Slovenia, later this month – where he will be the oldest rower in the boat by 12 years.