STEVE'S OLYMPIC JOURNEY:
With kind permission of the BBC

Date: 6 April 2007

Olympic journey

What makes the Olympics so extraordinary?

Sir Steve Redgrave overcame diabetes and a hatred for training to win five consecutive Olympic golds from 1984 to 2000.

He is Britain's greatest ever Olympian.

With London 2012 approaching he reveals his dreams, inspirations and the frustrations of achieving your lifelong ambitions.

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It all started during the 1972 Munich Games.

I was 10 and was delivering newspapers. I remember the headlines about American swimmer Mark Spitz. 'Spitz for six' sticks in my mind, although he went on to win seven.

I fantasised how amazing it would be to stand on the middle podium with a medal round my neck.

Lacking direction

Rowing was a sport I never came across as a kid. I didn't know what it was.

I come from Marlow and the annual Regatta meant the fair coming for three days and enjoying the festival - nothing at all to do with boats.

I was also into football and dreamt about scoring the Cup final winner.

The football dream hasn't come true yet...

Early dreams

At 16 I was told I would be world champion one day. It motivated me but the problem was - I believed them.

My turning point was 1983.

I was a real amateur compared to athletes from other countries. Things had to change.

I was still just as dedicated but I had a path I felt was right - and it had to be followed.

Water inspirations

I wanted to be a single sculler. UK's best rower was Jack Beresford € he won three Olympic golds.

I was so focused at the 1992 Games, I had doubts about carrying the GB flag.

Beresford had also carried the flag and I thought if he could do it, so could I.

Breaking records and finding new ways to do this always inspired me.

Built to last

Rowing is a muscular endurance sport and I was big and strong which helped!Physique is crucial.

I was sprinting school champion, but there is a massive difference between a 10-second run and rowing flat out for seven minutes.

Success came after improving my endurance.

There is a sport for everybody. Find one you enjoy and you'll do better

Golden LA

When we crossed the line in 1984 there wasn't elation, just pure relief.

There is a lot of emotion and excitement but you've only achieved what you felt you could go and get - that's the sad part of it.

You can only achieve your expectations - it was the same for all my medals - relief at setting out the goals and working towards it.

Crazy times

After winning in 1984 we returned to the Olympic village thinking 'What next?'

It was an emotional rollercoaster. In 1992 Matthew met his family and I went to the hotel to watch TV and thought: 'I can't watch other people racing.'

So I did my laundry - three hours after becoming Olympic champion for the third time! How crazy is that?

Magic moments

People dream of being Olympic champion and when it becomes reality it's a difficult process to deal with.

It's a moment of time you have focused on for so long and suddenly it's over.

There is an emptiness - even though you have achieved it all.

Fortunately I have not had the feeling of knowing what it's like on the other side.

Unique Olympics

We're a strange bunch of society all concentrated in one area - from tiny gymnasts to 7ft basketball players.

To be involved in a multi-sport games is fantastic.

Under the same roof, you eat with champions and see all the different sports and stars you watch on TV.

If you have talent and you have Olympic dreams, you've got to go for them.

Reproduced with kind permission of the BBC.

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