Men romp home f irst-ever medal

is richer because of that, we’ve come away with the ultimate prize.

“Three golds at three Olympics is great, but you pay for being in a sport that long. I can walk away now in a privileged position.

“Last year, I went and chased a job, but there was a part of me that said Rio was beckoning and it wasn’t done.

“I had a very big question to answer. I was always one bad session away from quitting the sport.

“Now, I have another life to lead. Rowing has enabled me to be something I could never have dreamt about.

“But life is a rich tapestry and rowing is a very small world, it’s one-dimensional and very selfish, as with all sports. I’m hungry to see what else I can do.”

His old mate Reed, a Royal Navy officer, was far more positive. He said: “It’s time like these that you just think you could do this for ever. This is the greatest sport, it’s the greatest feeling.

“Even the sacrifices are worth it. When you think it’s too much, when you think you can’t do any more.

“I don’t want this to be the end. I feel as strong as I’ve ever been.

“I need to think about what rowing in Tokyo would mean, what I would gain. I would have to think who would sacrifice and what they would sacrifice.

“I want to speak to the Royal Navy and have an honest discussion. I want to be a naval officer proper. I want to do what I signed up to do all those years ago.

“Can I imagine watching Tokyo? I think, yes, I can.

“But, yes, I can imagine being there as well.”