Pupils from an East End school have been building on their strength to prepare for a rowing race at the official Olympics venue for the sport.

Expert coaches from London Youth Rowing are preparing the Stepney Green Maths and Computer College students for the physical and mental hurdles they will face during the battle at Eton Dorney Rowing Centre near Windsor on May 1.

Stepney Green is one of five east London schools chosen to take part and pupil

Shah Ziaur Rahman, 14, was among the lucky few to officially launch the event at the London Eye where he took to a rowing machine against the backdrop of Parliament.

And it seems he and his teammates have already made a splash.

London Youth Rowing coach Owen Courtney, their coach, said: “I think I’ve definitely got one of the favourite teams. Anyone who wants to win this challenge is going to have to beat the boys from Stepney Green first.”

Olympic Champion rower Jean-Christophe Rolland, also an employee of EDF Energy which is sponsoring the challenge, also attended the launch.

The eventual winner will be decided not just by the final race but by the squad’s commitment in training, punctuality and teamwork.