Williams confident of British prospects without him in 2012

By Holly Hamilton, Sportsbeat

HE may not be going for a hat-trick, but double Olympic champion Steve Williams insists the sky's the limit for the British Rowing team at London 2012.

HANGING UP HIS OARS: Double Olympic champion Steve Williams insists the British Rowing squad is in rude health despite his retirement from the sport (Getty Images)

The 33-year old struck consecutive Olympic coxless four golds in Athens and Beijing before taking last season off to recuperate and think carefully about his future.

And while the other three members of the successful Beijing four - Andy Hodge Triggs, Peter Reed and Tom James - have their sights firmly set on defending their title at London 2012, Williams has conceded he won't be joining them.

But the veteran insists he is leaving the squad in rude health and admitted he won't be far from the front line when the Olympics come knocking again in just over two years time.

"After finishing fourth in the overall medal table in Beijing, the dream now is to be third in our home Olympics," said Williams, who also collected four world titles during his glittering career.

"We all want to see as many medals as possible and lots of Brits on podiums but for the rowing team, the objective will probably be three golds and seven medals.

"And considering there are only 14 events, that would be quite an achievement.

"I hope to be still be involved in London 2012. At the moment I don't know in what capacity but I would really love to be there somehow.

"Beijing does seem like a while back now, but when you see the guys again you get that buzz and that electric feeling that we experienced almost two years ago."

While Williams and James both took last season off, Reed and Triggs Hodge were unable to tear themselves away from racing and forged a successful partnership as a coxless pair, winning world silver in Poland.

But as they both return to the coxless four for the 2010 season, Reed insists it's important to move on from Beijing and secure further success with a new crew.

"There is no chance of all four of us getting back in the boat now Steve has retired," said Reed.

"There is a strong possibility that Tom, Andy and I could still be in the boat along with somebody else and barring illness or injury, the three of us will definitely be at 2012 in some capacity.

"But it would be quite dangerous to constantly refer back to that big race in Beijing.

"We have to look forward now and know that there will be a different combination in the boat."