Hebden rower Andy Hodge has said winning gold in the London 2012 Olympics would be his “proudest moment”.

Andy will be back to defend his 2008 Beijing Olympic title in the coxless four, a race that Great Britain has won in the last three Olympic Games.

“This will be the biggest event in my life,” said Andy, who was officially inducted into Team GB at a ceremony in the Olympic village earlier this week.

And although winning a gold medal was one of his crowning achievements, Andy said winning gold in London would be even sweeter.

“To win gold in front of the home crowd would be my proudest moment,” said Andy. “There’s nothing more I want than to make the country proud and to sing the national anthem on that podium.”

And with this year’s event on home soil, Andy anticipates that there will be more pressure on the athletes.

“There will be a bit more pressure and expectation, but I don’t mind because in the past I’ve used that to get the most out of myself. Equally having a home advantage has played an essential part in supporting us, especially over the last year.”

Although Andy took a tour of the Olympic village this week, he will not be staying there because Team GB want its rowers closer to the venues at Eton Dorney. They will instead stay at a hotel near Windsor.