AFTER dealing with the weight of expectation in the lead up to London 2012, there has been a different weight to bear for Bradford on Avon’s Ed McKeever since he took to the water last weekend – but the Team GB kayak king isn’t too upset over the strain of carrying an Olympic gold medal.

The 28-year-old star stormed to victory in the K1 200m final at Dorney Lake on Saturday, cementing his place as one of the world’s best sprint canoeists.

And McKeever has revealed that despite his best efforts, you can only carry London 2012 gold around your neck for so long.

“I tried to keep it on but I did have to take my medal off eventually because the golds are actually really heavy,” the Bradford hero told the Wiltshire Times.

“I had it on for about three hours after the race but my neck was starting to hurt – you don’t mind that of course though.”

READ MORE FROM OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ED MCKEEVER AND SEE ALL THE PICTURES FROM OUR OLYMPIC SPECIAL IN THIS FRIDAY’S WILTSHIRE TIMES