Back to the Army Game for Olympic heroine Heather Stanning

Published on 22/09/2012 01:22

Olympic gold medal winner Heather Stanning was back in uniform at her army barracks yesterday as she returned to the old routine.

The 27-year-old rower, who was educated at Gordonstoun School in Moray and whose parents live in Lossiemouth, was away from her position with the 32 Regiment Royal Artillery for two years to focus on the training for her Olympics bid. She has now completed her first week back at her army base in Larkhill, Wiltshire, and took part in a special ceremony with her proud colleagues.

Heather – who won Britain’s first Olympic gold in women’s rowing at the London 2012 Games with team-mate Helen Glover, pictured above – is now aiming for Rio 2014 – but says she had to “prove herself” worthy of a place there.

She said: “It is really good to be back here, I am really fortunate that I am able to come back to a working regiment.

“The plan is to do a tour of Afghanistan next year. It is important for my career that I have the experience, but we are still working out the finer details. I enjoy my job, but perhaps the one thing I haven’t missed is the paperwork.

“It is just nice to have a sense of normality now.

“Life does move on, but it is still all there.”