HEBDEN rower Andy Hodge may be a double Olympic champion but he says he is “on a voyage of discovery” as he returns to international competition after an 18-month absence.

Illness forced the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 men’s four champion to sit out the entire 2015 season but he is excited to be back in the GB Rowing Team squad for the European Championships, taking place in Brandenburg, Germany this weekend.

“It’s been an 18-month winter but summer is definitely on the horizon and it feels really good,” said Hodge, who has been named in the men’s eight.

“If I look at all the trials we’ve done during the winter, there have been some really good results and things I can be very proud of personally. I feel like I’ve earned my place in this eight and I’m part of the mission now to make it a gold-medal boat for Rio.”

GB has won gold in the eight at the last three World Championships and Hodge is confident this crew can keep their place on top of the podium at this summer’s Olympic Games.

The first chance to test themselves against international opposition comes at the European Championships, a competition where Britain has had to settle for bronze and silver in the past two years.

“We do want to hit the ground running but we are well aware of how other countries approach the Europeans, so we just have to deliver what we can,” said Hodge.