UK Olympic rowing champ Stanning retires

British double Olympic rowing champion Heather Stanning has retired.

British double Olympic rowing champion Heather Stanning has retired. (AAP)

British double Olympic champion Heather Stanning has announced her retirement from rowing.

The 31-year-old won gold in the women's pair with Helen Glover at London 2012 and Rio 2016 as part of an unbeaten record going back to 2011.

Stanning, who will continue serving in the British Army, said: "It's hard to identify a key highlight.

Obviously winning back-to-back Olympic golds is up there, but also our first World Championship gold was a big highlight."