Katherine Grainger believes the Rio Olympics will go down as one of Britain’s greatest ever sporting events after returning from Brazil with Team GB.

Grainger claimed silver alongside Vicky Thornley in the women’s double scull as Britain won 67 medals, including 27 golds, over the course of the games.

The medal haul is the nation’s best ever at an away Olympics and saw them better the 65 won at London 2012.

The Marlow rowing club member feels the timing of the Games could not have been better and says the impact of Team GB’s success transcends sport.

“It has almost felt like it has been a tough year for the country, a lot has happened politically in the nation in the last few months,” Grainger explained.

“I think the nice thing about sport is it does unite people and it lifts people. For a short while at least you have a lot of very positive news stories.

“I think the time and the place and the timing means this is one of the best Olympics – the best sporting events we have probably ever had.”

Having won gold four years ago, Grainger only just made it into the rowing squad for Rio as she and Thornley were handed last minute call ups.

The 40-year-old produced a stunning display in what was almost certainly her last competitive race to finish just behind Poland in the final and claim her fifth Olympic medal.

At times the achievements of Britain’s athletes in Rio have been scarcely believable as records have tumbled and new ground has been broken in various sports.

After smashing an initial medal target of 48, Grainger says it is an incredible feeling to have contributed to Britain’s continued Olympic success.

“To add to the medal target was a really special thing to do,” she said.

“I think the lovely thing is that the London Games were undoubtedly embraced by the nation.

“We all felt that almost couldn’t be replicated, it couldn’t happen again, it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.”

Grainger insists Team GB have established themselves as a dominant force at the Games and feels the conditions are in place for competitors to continue thriving.

She also praised the team’s “inspirational leaders” who help deliver “big results” on the biggest stage.

The Scot now wants to embrace the post-Olympic celebrations and says the enormity of what Team GB has achieved over the last two weeks is still sinking in.

She explained: “We have only seen a taste of the post-Rio feeling. We had an incredible reaction from the British Airways staff on the flight saying ‘you have no idea what you’re about to walk into.’”