In the last few weeks, as one of Britain’s top rowers, I’d be forgiven for thinking that Team GB selection would be a bit of a formality. However, hearing my name from the BOA’s Chef de Mission, Andy Hunt, this afternoon at the press conference was very special and took me by surprise.

“Welcome to the team” he said. I was glowing with pride.

Day to day training at Caversham is a relentless slog. We push hard and push on with our goal fixed in our minds. It is all we do and all we think about – making the boat go faster. It is so easy to let days like today pass you by.

I wasn’t prepared for the conference this afternoon and the rush of emotion I felt whilst amongst my teammates outside Windsor Castle. The location, occasion and perhaps the huge wave of patriotism that was fresh in my mind from the weekend’s diamond jubilee celebrations made today extra special.

I am very proud to be selected to represent my country on the Olympic stage for a second time. Today marks the last significant step in the build up to the opening ceremony. It’s a reminder to crack on. The coxless four is selected into Team GB now, “Our Greatest Team”, I read today. If it is, it’s going to be the athletes that make it great and for us to do that, we need to get back to training. There is no time to celebrate.