Great Britain rower Moe Sbihi is thrilled to be part of a men’s eight boat with a real medal chance at this year’s Samsung Rowing World Cup.

Sbihi won bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games but came away bitterly disappointed after chasing a gold medal and falling just short.

But he hopes this year will more then make up for the last.

“I was really chuffed looking back on the Olympics in September and October, but the reason I say I was disappointed is because I’d only ever thought of gold," said Sbihi, who grew up in Surbiton, attended The Hollyfield School and has been a member of the Molesey Boat Club for more than 10 years.

“We’re going to Dorney with a lot of optimism. We know it’s going to be tough, and it’s an odd year being post Olympics, but I’m looking forward to it.”

It’s that single mindedness and determination for success that has shown other members of the team just how good and successful Sbihi could be in the sport he knew hardly anything about until his teenage years.

He was brought through the rowing system by a talent identification scout while at school and though he possesses the natural attributes for the sport, he struggled initially with the technical and mental components of being a professional athlete.

World Cup team-mate and double Olympic gold medalist, Andrew Triggs Hodge MBE, said: “I’ve seen Moe develop over the years and progress at Molesey.

"He’s had to fight for what he’s got – he is, underneath it all a very naturally talented athlete, but it’s not been easy for him and to see him come through and realise his potential at the very top is great.

“The best thing about him is that he won’t stop, and he won’t be happy until he retires, so you know when you’re in his boat you’re going to go fast.”

Sbihi puts his development down to the Molesey Boat Club.

“It’s been phenomenal. It’s one of those clubs where you can be a junior or a veteran but you’re not classified as anything other than a Molesey member," he said.

“The talent scheme tested 10,000 kids in my area, and I was one of four selected. It was weird having someone tell you that you could win a medal at 2012 back then, but I kept at it.

"I was the slowest learner by far and I look back at some of the things I did in my first five years of rowing that were really stupid.

“It’s tough mentally when you’re 15 but after five years it seeps into you and in those five years I felt like I not only grew into a rower, but a man as well.” 

Sbihi, now 25, is one of the rowers at Molesey, alongside Hodge, that helps inspire the younger generations.

He added: “Four or five years ago the club only had Andy to look up to and there was only a small group training there.

“I was down there in October and there was around 16 people training, which shows how the club has grown. Back when I was that age, Andy was the only figure to look up to and now, apparently, I’m one of them, too, and if I can inspire someone to row, or to improve, then that’s great.”

As of this year Sbihi is also competing alongside with Hodge and he admits that it took some getting used to.

“At first I was nervous, but he’s such a cool and calm character; he never panics about anything, so it’s great to learn from him," he said.

The Eton Dorney regatta of the Rowing World Cup takes place between June 21 and 23 and Molesey rowers Sbihi and Hodge will both compete in the men’s eight and hope to emulate their success from the Sydney regatta where they took gold.