Robbins to give Olympics one more shot

Sally Robbins has given the strongest indication yet she intends to have one more tilt at Olympic rowing glory, despite the "Lay Down" controversy in 2004 and failing to make the Australian team in 2008.

Robbins attempts for Olympic redemption in Beijing were officially ended last month, when she did not make the cut for selection in the quad and doubles squads, after switching from the women's eight which has brought her so much unwanted attention since Athens.

The efforts of Robbins to continue in the sport despite the tidal wave of public opinion which followed her stopping rowing in 2004 were rewarded by the Western Australian Institute of Sport.

And in accepting WAIS' Triumph award for excellence over adversity in sport this year, Robbins said while she was still not yet rowing again, she had begun planning an assault on the London Games in 2012.

"The last few weeks after finishing selection I have been meeting with my parents and staff at WAIS, and it has meant me coming to the awareness that I still want to continue with rowing," Robbins said.

"Time out of the boat is always good and keeps you fresh ... if four years down the track I want to be there in strong contention, I need a break mentally.

"It has been extremely tough, and I am proud to have come back. It definitely would have been an easy option not to.

"I came pretty close (to quitting) straight after Athens, and I did not really want to see a boat any time soon.

"But at the same time I knew it was what I love, and it was quite an easy option to get back into rowing because that was what was stable in my life."

Announcing Robbins' non-selection last month, Rowing Australia high-performance director Noel Donaldson did not rule out her participation in London in 2012.

And the 26-year-old said her love of the sport, and desire to win gold, was beginning to outweigh the pressures which came to bear after Athens.

"I know I want to give the next four years a go, and I have got a plan set out with my coach," Robbins said.

"It is my love for rowing, and I have not reached my goals. It is that desire, I love representing Australia and going to the Olympics - I know what it was like, and it would be really exciting (to do it again)."

Out of the boat since failing in her bid for Beijing, Robbins is currently concentrating on cycling, swimming and running, even putting her name forward for an half ironman event in Busselton in WA's south recently.

Although Robbins did not get to compete there, she admits competitive cycling is something she may also pursue.

"What makes a good athlete, and a good rower, is being diverse. We need to get in long kilometres out on the water so we can't always row all the time, so these are all good alternatives," Robbins said.

"Watching a half ironman is very inspirational ... I must be (glutton for punishment), but I think rowers are bred like that."