Scots rower Katherine Grainger through to Olympic final

Reigning Olympic champion Katherine Grainger and partner Vicky Thornley are safely through to the women's double sculls final.

Vicky Thornley and Katherine Grainger in action during the women's double sculls semi-finals in Rio. Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Having come out of retirement two years ago, Rio 2016 is 40-year-old Grainger’s fifth Games and one in which she will now compete to retain her title.

She won at London 2012 alongside Anna Watkins after three successive silver medals at previous Games.

Grainger and Thornley progressed second from their semi-final in six minutes 52.47 seconds, securing a place in Thursday’s final at the stunning Lagoa.

Olympic debutants Alan Sinclair and Stewart Innes also have a final on the horizon after the Inverness-Henley combination finished second in their men’s pair semi-final.

The morning started with Alan Campbell reaching the men’s single sculls semi-finals, finishing second to Croatia’s Damir Martin at the Lagoa.

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