The Rower Who Won Gold Medals At 5 Olympics
As the only Briton ever to achieve this feat, Redgrave is considered by some to be Britain's greatest Olympian. Only four other Olympians achieved the same: Pál Kovács, Aladár Gerevich (the only one to surpass it with 6 consecutive golds), Reiner Klimke, and Birgit Fischer, and only one of those in an "endurance" event. Redgrave has also won nine Rowing World Championship gold medals.
He married Ann Callaway (now Lady Redgrave) in 1988; an accomplished rower in her own right, Ann represented Great Britain in the women's eight at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and was Chief Medical Officer to the GB rowing team from 1992 - 2001.
Reigned Supreme on the Olympic Rowing Lakes
Impressive rowing record
That's right, six medals - everyone forgets the coxed pairs bronze he won at the 1988 Seoul Olympics with Andy Holmes and cox Patrick Sweeney.
I suppose you can be forgiven for forgetting the bronze seeing as how every other Olympic boat he raced in won gold.
The first came at the 1984 Los Angeles Games in the coxed four with Martin Cross, Holmes, Richard Budgett and cox Adrian Ellison.
By 1988, he raced in two pairs with Holmes, won the coxless event and came third in the coxed.
In Barcelona four years later, Redgrave clinched his third successive Olympic gold when he teamed up with Matthew Pinsent for the first time on the Olympic stage in the coxless pairs.
And the duo repeated the feat in the Centennial Games in Atlanta. After a draining race, Redgrave told the BBC: "If you ever see me in a boat, you have permission to shoot me."
But the durable rower returned to attempt to win a record fifth consecutive Olympic title in Sydney.
And the British public were hooked with more than 6.5m viewers tuning into BBC at midnight to watch what has since been voted the greatest moment in British sporting history.
A tense race finished with the British boat, which featured Pinsent winning a third gold, Tim Foster and James Cracknell, crossing the line just 0.38 seconds ahead of the Italians.
Redgrave had won an unprecedented fifth consecutive Olympic gold in an endurance event.
Great Steve Redgrave stuff from Amazon
Fast Facts About Steve Redgrave
- By what margin did he win in Sydney?
0.38 seconds - How tall is he?
6' 4" and a bit. - Who inspired him to compete?
Perti Karpinen, 3 times Olympic champion in the single scull. - How many Olympic medals has he won?
6. Everyone forgets the Bronze from 1988 in the Coxed Pairs - we got the Gold for the Coxless Pairs. - Is it true that he competed in the British Bobsleigh team?
He competed in the Bobsleigh Championships in Winterberg, Germany and came 15th in 1985 (2-man). We came 2nd in 1987 (2-man) and were winners in 1989 (4-man). They came 11th in the World Cup race in Sarajevo in 1989 (4-man). Rowing worked out a little better. - How did he feel when he found out he was diabetic?
When first diagnosed in 1997, he was completely devastated and, initially, believed that he would no longer be able to continue training for the Olympics in 2000. How wrong he was. He soon realised that, with special guidance and support, he would be able to continue training and reach the goals he had set myself. - How long has he been married to Ann?
19 years. - Does he miss training?
No. he hated training. It was a means to an end. To keep fit now he has to motivate himself with a goal, the London Marathon or another sporting event. - Will we ever see him in a boat again?
In terms of a rowing boat, yes, he has been rowing since Sydney, including the Legends race, and continues to do so. But only occasionally.
Life After Rowing
Redgrave is a supporter of Chelsea FC.
Steven Redgrave is also commemorated at Burnham Grammar School and Broadlands Science and Engineering School as one of the four houses there.
Also, at Linton Village College in Cambridgeshire, there is a school faculty (house) named after him.
He attended the 2007 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium as a guest of honour.
He also starred in Top Ground Gear Force (although he didn't realise until it was too late) for Sport Relief in 2008, where the Top Gear Team (Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond) took on Ground Force with predictable results, and trashed his garden.
He has also launched his own Fairtrade Cotton Brand of Clothing called FiveG which is sold in Debenhams department stores. Sir Steve is committed to providing a better deal for the Third World through both his FiveG clothing range and the Sir Steve Redgrave Charity Trust.
The Steve Redgrave Fund
Raised £5 million pounds in five years
The Steve Redgrave Fund targets the youth problems of obesity, social exclusion and lack of confidence in British schools. After raising £5 million pounds in five years, it was decided to work with the Sport Relief charity and combine efforts.
Shout Out For Steve Redgrave!
He's a good role model
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- tabitha tabitha Apr 16, 2009 @ 6:07 am
- In case it's useful, I thought I'd share this link I found which has some personal interviews with Steve, talking about his target of the Olympics and starting the Trust - so interesting and he seems like such a nice guy:
http://www.t5m.com/steve-redgrave/
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- EverythingMouse EverythingMouse Jan 5, 2009 @ 10:22 pm
- A truly remarkable role model.
by Rob3
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