Vicky Thornley going it alone as she seeks Olympic gold

The 29-year-old won double sculls silver with Dame Katherine Grainger and was content with the result after a fraught build-up, but believes she is capable of better at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The Wrexham rower is now in the single scull - where one rower uses two oars - and is seeking further success as part of a 50-strong British team at the European Championships in Racice, Czech Republic, racing from Friday until Sunday.

Thornley, who finished runner-up at the opening World Cup regatta in Belgrade earlier this month, told Press Association Sport: "I don't think I've shown my potential internationally.

"I was the best I've ever been in Rio, but I feel I could be better.

"It's all about the Olympic Games and they only come round every four years. That's what I've committed to.

"It's a long way off, but hopefully I can improve on my medal from Rio."

Grainger was competing in her fifth Olympics in Rio. She had won silvers at three Games prior to ending the quest for gold at London 2012 before returning to claim her fourth silver in Rio.

Thornley and Grainger had to wait for their Olympic selection to be confirmed after unsuccessfully trying to break into the women's eight squad following a disappointing fourth-placed finish at last year's European Championships.

There were also suggestions of friction behind the scenes.

"What we went through that year and the ups and downs were massive emotionally. It took a lot out of us," Thornley said.

"The fact is we put everything back together and actually really enjoyed the lead-in to the Games. All we wanted to do was go out and produce our best race. Fundamentally in rowing that's all you can do.

"We did that under the biggest pressure and it led to an amazing silver medal. I'm very proud of what we delivered on the day together."

Grainger has subsequently retired - having considered it post-London 2012 before opting to continue - and been named as chair of UK Sport.

Thornley contemplated quitting, too, but is now focused on Tokyo 2020.

She is taking the opportunity in the first year of the four-year Olympic cycle to try something new, but a boat without crew-mates is not attractive to all.

Thornley added: "It's not the boat many people fight over.

"I raced in London as an eight (reaching the Olympic final) and raced in Rio in the double, when it's just the two of you. I really enjoyed both.

"The single is a unique boat class, because you are on your own all the time.

"You're pushing yourself in the boat. You have to be quite on it, keeping concentration. You have to be hard on yourself.

"(But) when you do something in a race you can just do it. You don't have to communicate it to other people."

The Belgrade finalists were all European, with Switzerland's Jeannine Gmelin the only person to beat Thornley.

Just like in Rio, Thornley is concentrating on her own performance and will be content with the result so long as she has met her own high standards.

"There are some really good scullers within Europe, so it will be a really good test for me," she added.

"I can only race the race my own race and put the best race I can together and the result will be the result."