Romero forced to retire

Romero in bow of the championship quad

Great Britain’s Rebecca Romero, Olympic silver medallist and current world champion in the women’s quad, has decided to step aside from rowing and will not be part of the British rowing squad aiming at Beijing 2008.

A back strain that dates back to July last year when Romero, 26, was preparing for the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne has prevented the British sculler from continuing. At the time Romero had to miss the Rowing World Cup but she returned to win gold at the World Rowing Championships in Gifu, Japan.

The back problems, however, resurfaced over winter training and Romero was unable to train in the boat, therefore missing the British trials. She decided to retire from rowing due to ongoing back problems.

Romero began rowing in 1997 and quickly moved up through the ranks of British rowing competing at the World Rowing Junior Championships in her second year in the sport.