Olympic gold medallist Emily Craig returned to her roots to receive her life membership of Bewl Bridge Rowing Club.

Craig started her rowing career at Bewl Bridge, aged 12, where she would train until she left for university in London.

After missing out on medal with Imogen Grant at the Tokyo Games by just 0.01sec, the duo embarked on an incredible three-year winning streak, culminating in doubles sculls gold at this summer’s Paris Olympics.

Craig has also won three World Championship and two European Championship gold medals.

The 31-year-old talked to the junior squads at Bewl Bridge about her story and route to becoming an international athlete.

Club captain Crawford Burden hosted a Q&A with Craig in front of an audience of more than 80 club members, where she spoke about the importance of organisation, nutrition, dedication and a great coach to be successful.

She was presented with a lifetime membership to Bewl Bridge and a bottle of Chapel Down champagne. At the same event, lifetime president - and the founder of the club in 1977 - Chris Willis had a boat named after him.

Willis said: “Bewl Bridge Rowing Club goes from strength-to-strength.

“The first-ever boat that we bought was a gold medal-winning Olympic boat from Berlin in 1936 and, with Emily here, it feels like we have come full circle.”