Olympic silver medallist Alex Partridge has underlined the important role that coaches play in professional athletes' cardio and fitness training.

Speaking to the BBC, the Henley Leander Club rower said that it is the work of these "unsung heroes" and their enthusiasm that drives the sport's high achievers to reach their goals.

He said: "What nobody sees is these dark hours coaches spend driving from Bath to Stourport on a winter morning. People get up at 04:30 GMT just so a trailer can be there for 25 16-year-olds.

"It's those people that make you enjoy the sport when you're young and that leads to the opportunities you get later on in life."

Four British rowing champions have returned to training for the 2012 Olympics this week, after taking time out following last year's Games.

Tom James, Mark Hunter, Fran Houghton and Debbie Flood are now starting their winter training, setting them on a course for reaching their full fitness peaks in three years' time.