An Olympic title in Beijing would not make up for the disappointment of coming last in Athens, according to rower Andrew Triggs-Hodge.

The Molesey Boat Club member was a part of the Great Britain eight that finished last in 2004, having been among the favourites to win a medal.

The 28-year-old is in line to return to the Olympic stage as part of the coxless fours crew in August.

The oarsman was part of the boat that went on a 29-race unbeaten run that ended in a shock defeat at last year's World Cup regatta in Lucerne.

They went on to finish fourth at the World Championships in Germany in September, but Triggs-Hodge believes even victory in China will not erase the memory of the three defeats - particularly the one in Greece.

"We were concerned we went from medal prospects to finishing last in the space of a few months," he said.

"It wasn't to do with fitness - it was more about harmony in the boat and how we approached the race.

"We rowed as eight individuals. It was a disaster.

"Gold at Beijing would not lay that ghost to rest at all. It will always be there.

"In a four-year Olympiad nothing else matters except one race, the Olympic final.

"If we were to get silver or anything below that, it is failure.

"It is like the Boat Race. You either win or you lose. For us, at the Olympics there is no second place."

The final trials for the coxless four crew will have been completed by the end of March and Triggs-Hodge will know by the beginning of May if he will be in the team for Beijing.

The Oxford University graduate, who is nearing the end of the team's intense winter preparations, believes it won't be a lack of fitness that sees him miss his Olympic dream.

"In my training performances during the winter I have been setting a lot of personal bests, so I think I am in the shape of my life at the moment," he added.

"We have to make changes from the World Champion-ships.

"Whether that is a change of personnel is yet to be decided."