Sophie Hosking, Olympic gold medallist, and former Cognition chemist, has announced that she is retiring from rowing to pursue yet another challenging career.

After winning the gold medal with Katherine Copeland in the women's lightweight double sculls at London 2012, Sophie has spoken about her plans to move away from sport to study law:

"After the Olympics I decided to take some time out from rowing and reflect on the past four years. I had always planned to step away from the sport to assess where my motivations lay post Olympics. As time went by I realised that I was satisfied by what I had achieved in the sport and it seemed like the right time to seek a new challenge.

I had always wanted to have a career post sport and law had always been something that appealed to me from an early age. Having studied sciences at university I knew I would have to convert to law in order to become a solicitor. I went about applying for training contracts and managed to secure one with Freshfields and I begin studying in September."

During her Olympic training, Sophie demonstrated her remarkably varied skill-set, and her ability to succeed in hugely diverse roles, by working simultaneously as a Cognition chemist. Speaking of her time working at Cognition, Sophie remarked:

"I am unsure of the area I wish to specialise in but as a result of working with Cognition, environmental law is potentially an area I would be interested in. Having spent some time working at Cognition it has made the transition from athlete in to the working world much easier.

I had the rare opportunity as an elite athlete to work part-time alongside training and this has been of great help to me. I would like to thank Cognition for all their help and support in the build up to London."

Cognition’s Richard Ashwell wishes Sophie "the best of luck in all future endeavours. While Sophie has been working for us she’s proven to be a valuable part of the team, as with her sports she is highly determined, full of drive and enthusiasm, and we will be sorry to see her go. Even having won gold at the Olympics, Sophie is the sort of person where the best is yet to come."