FRANCES Houghton has enjoyed not having to take part in a gruelling festive training programme over the last few weeks.

When once she would be getting up early to put in the miles on a rowing machine, this Christmas was more relaxed for the now retired three-time Olympic silver medallist.

Instead she enjoyed the festivities without the thought of completing her daily workouts, set by British Rowing, to ensure she would return in tip-top condition.

“It has been lovely,” said Houghton as she prepared her Brussels sprouts for dinner at her Henley home.

“I used to have to bring a rowing machine home for a Christmas training programme.

“It has been so nice not to fit in ridiculous training, doing press-ups in the garage and horrible things like that while everyone else is having a nice bit of Christmas cake.

“Every day feels like complete luxury, whether it is Christmas or not.”

The 36-year-old, who hails from Wheatley, has not rowed since helping the Great Britain women’s eight finish second in Rio – her fifth and final Games.

Houghton first took up the sport while a pupil at the Dragon School, Oxford.

She went on to be crowned world champion in the quadruple scull on four occasions, as well as winning Olympic silver medals in 2004, 2008 and 2016 – the latter coming just months after the death of her father, Robin.

And she travelled to Rio knowing she had his full support.

“It was very much a tough time for everyone and it put rowing into perspective,” said Houghton.

“At the same time I knew how much dad wanted me to be doing it. He said I have got to do things I really love.

“My rowing improved a lot because I was so focused on my dad I could not get stressed about rowing.”

Houghton is also, alongside Katherine Grainger, the first British female rower to compete at five Games.

She had never intended to become, as she put it, ‘one of those people that hangs around for years’, but that outlook soon changed after her first Olympics in Sydney.

Houghton said: “I was totally blown away by it and counting out on my fingers how many games I could fit in. Five became my goal.”

So what does the future hold for someone who has dedicated more than 20 years to sport?

“I’m moving to Cornwall,” she said.

“My fiancee (Steve Askey) runs the tennis centre in Newquay. I am going to move down in a few months.”

And what of her life after rowing?

She could turn to cooking after spending three months in 2009 training at Ballymaloe Cookery School, Ireland, but she is in no rush to make a decision.

Houghton said: “It is an incredible opportunity for anyone to just press pause and think what should I do next, because it’s a clean break and a good opportunity to make the most of.

“It’s great to know I have another skill to fall on if I need to as well.

“Every day I sway between wanting a 9-5 job that is really simple to ‘I want to change the world’.”