British rower Imogen Grant, who won Olympic gold in Paris in lightweight rowing, is undertaking a significant physical transformation to compete in open-weight rowing at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. Her previous discipline was removed from the Olympic calendar, prompting her to consider retirement before deciding to pursue another Olympic appearance.
The 5ft 6in athlete is now focused on gaining weight and muscle to compete against rowers who are typically taller and heavier. This shift means she no longer faces the weight restrictions of lightweight rowing, where she and her former partner Emily Craig had to average no more than 57kg.
Grant, who is 30, is also navigating this change while maintaining a vegan diet, consuming an estimated 3,500-4,000 calories daily during training. She aims to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve elite sporting performance on a plant-based diet.
After balancing rowing with her work as a resident doctor, Grant returned to full-time rowing this year. She helped Britain's women's quad team win World Cup gold in Lucerne in June and has been selected for the World Championships in Amsterdam, taking place from 24-30 August.