The prize: to take part in the Olympic games, as the coxswain or "cox" for the eight-person rowing team.

NPR: China Looks To Row Away With Most Gold Medals

Both the Russian slalom team and the Chinese rowing team used the centre for a six-week training camp in 2010.

BBC: London 2012 National Watersports Centre boost hopes

There they trained with members of the US rowing team, coached military veterans and competed in the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.

BBC: Asian Games: Rower earns first medal for Iraq

The rowing team were on their annual training camp in the Spanish town in preparation for fielding two crews against Cambridge in March.

BBC: Search continues for missing oarsman

The British Olympic rowing team has called on small Pennsylvania-based company Noble Fiber Technologies to create uniforms that will stand up to the intense Greek heat.

CNN: Silver secret behind golden hopes

Last night the veteran rowers took part in their event, leading to success for the Caradon men's team rowing in Amazon.

BBC: Racers gather for Isles of Scilly gig championship

The rowing video with USA National Team rower, Josh Crosby, is also totally inspirational and reminds me of the days when the pathway around Charles River was my running track (wherever you are, you can find beautiful places to get moving and workout).

FORBES: Whip Your Body In Shape With Inspiration From Sports Videos

Stanning, and rowing partner Helen Glover, triumphed in the women's pair for what was Team GB's first gold at the London Olympics.

BBC: Heather Stanning

Sir Matthew Pinsent, who won four Olympic gold medals in rowing for Great Britain and is going to Delhi as part of the BBC commentary team, questioned the future of the Games.

BBC: Photographs expose athletes' village concerns in Delhi