Molesey Boat Club comeback king Greg Searle reckons he could be in better shape for the London Olympics than when he won gold at the Barcelona Games 18 years ago.

The 38-year-old former Hampton School student joined the race for 2012 before Christmas and finished second in the Team GB trials single sculls B final in Belgium last week.

Searle, famously crowned Olympic coxed pairs champion with brother Jonny in 1992, insists the disappointment has not put him off and has targeted a return to international rowing this year in the World Cup series or World Championships.

He admits making the team nearly three decades on from his finest hour is going to be tougher than he expected, but believes that can only bode well for Britain’s hopes of medalling in the summer and beyond.

“All my own measures show that I am improving and making progress compared to a lot of the people at the trials,” he said.

“The team is of a very high standard so it is going to be pretty tough to get selection, but in a way that is going to be a good.

“There’ll be six boats in the men’s team and all of them are going to be competitive “I may not make selection for the World Cups, but the World Championships aren’t until October so there is a long way to go yet and who’s is to say things won’t change.

“Team GB has better coaches, better management, better funding and better support for the athletes. Bisham Abbey is just up the road and Kavesham lake is only round the corner from me.

“Everything about the set-up is better and in theory, I should be a better athlete and better prepared than I ever was before.”

Searle last appeared in a British vest at the Sydney Olympics where he finished a disappointing fourth in the coxless pairs with Ed Coode.

There have been widespread changes in the sport at elite level since then, with top rowers able to commit to training full-time without having to combine rowing with a job.

Searle scaled back his work commitments in December and began training with Team GB full-time in January, having decided competing on home water in 2012 was too good an opportunity to miss.

Particularly if it meant winning another medal.

“Sydney was disappointing. I was 28 and should have been at the peak of my powers, so to speak,” he added.

“Those Games were still an experience I wouldn’t swap for anything, but I’d like to have a happy memory to finish with. If I can get there.”

And despite having put down roots in Marlow, his heart is still very much close to his former west London home.

“Molesey is my club and I will always represent them.”