Olympic silver medallist Vicky Thornley admits she may call on Dame Katherine Grainger's experience at the World Rowing Championships.

Thornley, 29, won silver alongside five-time Olympic medallist Grainger at Rio 2016 in the double sculls, but will be going it alone in Sarasota, Florida, from Monday.

The Wrexham rower has been in the single scull since the start of the year after Grainger's retirement and a prolonged post-Olympic break where she considered her own future.

Thornley, who became the first Welsh woman to win an Olympic rowing medal in Brazil, has certainly taken to the challenge after claiming gold at the European Championships in May.

Now she goes in search of another gold and could not have a better mentor than Grainger, who accumulated six World Championship titles during an illustrious career.

Thornley told Press Association Sport: "It's amazing what she has done. To have played a small part in that is great.

"You often don't look back, but I saw a video on Twitter of Katherine's career and it was an amazing time.

"No one would have put us in that position (to win a silver medal) and that's always nice.

"We often see her, she'll be here commentating, and she's always there for advice if we need it."

Britain has sent 19 crews and 73 athletes to the United States for the biggest meet of the year, which runs from Sunday, September 24 until Sunday, October 1.

Thornley is hopeful of bringing home a medal but the former equestrian rider is keen to race out of the traps from the first heat.

She added: "You're always on edge a bit before the first race (on Monday).

"At this level, winning races doesn't come easily. It's a different experience to win, to try on the winner's coat, and it's good to have (the European) title.

"I've had a solid training block, I'm fitter than when I last raced, but the first port of call is to make sure I'm in that final."

Thornley's break after her silver success in Rio saw her take in Cape Town and a road trip through France and Italy, but there is a different journey which is focusing her thoughts now.

"I've set my sights on winning from now on," she said. "This is more of a personal journey, it's just you, it's a challenge I've always wanted to have a good crack at.

"When I first started this year I didn't know where I would be. I'm actually ahead of where I thought I would be."

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