The new club, featuring a boathouse, pontoon and fleet of 16 new rowing boats, has been funded by developer St George in an agreement with London's Hammersmith and Fulham Council linked to the construction of nearly 750 riverside flats, plus offices, restaurants and bars.

It aims to "bust the myth" rowing is an elitist sport by encouraging state school children to undertake rowing courses, as well as youngsters within the local community.

Students at the Hammersmith Academy were at the club last month to help unload the 16 boats ahead of the club's official opening.

They were joined at Fulham Reach by pupils of Chelsea Academy and Burlington Danes Academy for the opening, while pupils from St Paul's school will also have access to the facilities across the next year.

The club offers users the opportunity to row down a stretch of the River Thames used for the world-famous Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.

Katherine Grainger, who won double sculls gold at London 2012 to end a four Olympic Games-streak of taking silver, was joined at the launch by Steve O'Connor, chief executive of Fulham Reach Boat Club, who gave her a tour of the club's facilities.

Katherine Grainger was joined at the club launch by Steve O'Connor, chief executive of Fulham Reach Boat Club, as well as students from Chelsea Academy, Burlington Danes Academy and Hammersmith Academy ©Mike Couchman



"I do a lot of work with schools and clubs in different sports, not just rowing," said six-time world champion Grainger afterwards.

"Everyone talks about how sport helps young people with socialising, how it gives young people a goal, how the drive helps them communicate and have a sense of responsibility and camaraderie.

"Sport is an amazing thing to teach life's lessons, without feeling you are being taught a lesson and that's the best way to learn.

"This new rowing club is a great thing for me to be involved in."

The Olympic champion, who recently announced that she has returned to training in preparation for the 2016 Rio Games, added: "I didn't row at school and I went to a state school up in Glasgow where rowing certainly wasn't part of the curriculum.

"I started rowing aged 18 at university and since then, I didn't intend it to, but it's become a major part of my life.

"It's given me huge opportunities internationally, some of the best friends I could have ever hoped for and an amazing way to challenge myself.

"The whole purpose of a club like Fulham Reach Boat Club is to be a part of the community and to help the community.

"I know myself all the benefits that rowing can have, and it's lovely that this club is starting and that young people have the chance to try something that they would have never had the chance to otherwise.

London 2012 Olympic champion Katherine Grainger gave children from a number of state schools a quick tip in learning how to row as she officially opened the Fulham Reach boat Club in London ©Mike Couchman



Despite the club's aims to "bust the myth" that rowing is an elitist sport, Grainger admitted she did not feel this was a fair reputation.

"I have never seen rowing as an elitist sport," she said.

"I have heard it being called that but have never experienced or seen it as being that kind of sport.

"I have rowed with people from every corner of the country, from the north of Scotland to the bottom of Cornwall, with people who didn't go to university, people who didn't go to any privileged school, people from a wide range of backgrounds, people who have had sport in the family, people who have never done sport.

"You don't start at the head of the team because of the background you've come from.

"Everyone earns their place through merit, hard work and their potential.

"That's the great thing about sport, it really is quite an equalizer.

"Unless you're willing to put that hard work in and the effort, the blood, sweat and tears, it doesn't matter where you come from and what your background is, you won't have the success."

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