Otago rower Lucy Strack is still targeting Olympic qualification and is adamant her lapse in form is only temporary.
Strack has pulled out of the international season but believes a break will help her get to Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
''I don't feel I'm rowing to the standard I'm capable of,'' Strack told the Otago Daily Times from Cambridge yesterday.
''I wanted to step back, get back on the right path, and go back to my own pace and do the distance work.
''I've got two years to find perfection. My long-term goal is to get to Rio.''
Strack's training form has been below her best and she felt it was the right time to step down.
''It's in my best interest and Rowing New Zealand's best interest for me to withdraw from this year's campaign. It was a difficult decision but it feels right with me.''
Strack was the dominant female lightweight sculler in the New Zealand summer racing season and convincingly won the premier lightweight single sculls title.
She also won a gold medal in the women's premier heavyweight eight to gain her first red coat.
''I had a really good summer. Coming off the New Zealand trials, I felt I was in the best form of my career.
''I was doing personal bests in the gym and, technically, I was rowing really well. But gradually, over the winter, my form dropped.''
Strack has been through a full medical checkup and everything has come back positive.
She had back problems at the end of 2011 and early in 2012 that stopped her from making the London Olympics. Since then, she has been meticulous with her flexibility and strength exercises and body maintenance programme.
Strack is a dedicated trainer and puts 100% effort into every training session.
She had just returned from a training session on Lake Karapiro when she spoke to the Otago Daily Times. She is doing the training at her own pace to improve her base fitness.
''I've had a few sessions with under-23 coach Gary Roberts and we have come up with some exciting new concepts,'' Strack said.
''I'm following those targets at the moment. I need to find my base again and am going back and doing a lot more kilometres.''
