When Sheffield's Monica Sutton injured her foot last May, she abandoned the treadmill in favour of the rowing machine and discovered a hidden talent – as well as shedding four stone in the process.I suddenly realised I quite liked it and, at the same time, I could be quite good at it. Then my coach gave me the times of last year's British ranking and I thought maybe I could achieve something here.With the help of coach Vicky McDougal she adopted a rigorous training programme, spending an hour at Greens gym each evening on her way home from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital where she works as a diabetes nurse specialist.I have had diabetes myself for 30 years (on insulin) so my achievements have not been easy as I have had to make loads of adjustments to insulin and diet according to training. I hate to think how much business I have put your way as my patients, green with envy at my shrinkage, are all taking up rowing!Monica started with a 2,000m time of 9:47 and a weight of 118 kg; she now weighs 82 kg and won bronze at last November's AXA PPP healthcare British Indoor Rowing Championship in a time of 8:35.5.When I saw my score I was absolutely delirious! I was thrilled to bits and I texted all my friends and supporters to tell them the news.Then I realised I'd come third - and that Sir Steve Redgrave was handing out the bronze medals! I was just grinning from ear to ear.Monica is delighted at her achievement, not just because she has risen to the challenge but also because of what it means to so many others.There are messages here for people who are overweight, for other people with diabetes and for other middle-aged women. It's needed an awful lot of very focused work from me, but it's made such a difference. In May 2003 I was four stone heavier and feeling down because of my foot injury, but now I feel like I've met a challenge head-on and I feel like a new woman.