‘Citing examples from Brian Clough to Jonny Wilkinson, Redgrave relates some of the sporting tales that spurred him on over a two-decade career which included winning nine rowing World Championships and three Commonwealth Championships,’ reports the Henley Standard.

Then event promises to kick of with a bang and end on a high note.

A true sporting hero and inspiration to millions, we talk exclusively to Steve Redgrave about everything from his career, to his work for the Sir Steve Redgrave Charity Trust and his close relationships with fellow rowers Matthew Pinsent, Tim Foster and James Cracknell.

Notoriously publicity shy and private, Steve talks openly with t5m about how much he owes his English teacher, who suggested he try rowing instead of sprinting whilst at school, as well as discussing his personal approach to sport and success; we even get a look at one of his famed boats, as he explains the technology and strategy behind his winning technique.

The charity was bought to Steve’s attention after hearing about 23-year-old Brian Wesley, a victim of SADS who died earlier this year. He is joined by David Walliams and Sir Ian Botham, who also support the charity which has recently launched The Heart Screening Awareness Partnership, which aims to inform parents and children about the screening process.

Steven said ‘I am honoured to be a patron of CRY, having had first hand experience of the impact of such a sudden death’.

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What was the magic ingredient in Steve Redgrave’s ascent to sporting superstardom? His glove and shoe size, it seems. “My sports teacher,” the Olympic champion rower says, “used to look for the kids that had big hands and feet because they would make the best rowers”. And from those humble schoolboy sports beginnings his career has sailed into orbit, with a clutch of international medals. He ranked up a fair share of them from the Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth Games. And with six Olympic medals, five of them gold, he is the greatest Olympian that Britain has produced.

But it hasn’t been a breeze; Steve has overcome serious health problems in his rise to the upper echelons of sport. His battle with diabetes means he has to undertake dialysis for the condition, but it hasn’t dampened his desire for success. Since his diagnosis in 1997, Steve has gone on to win Gold at the Sydney Olympics and the Cologne World Championships. But, as he’s learned, “failing is just as important as winning, because it drives you forward.”

Rowing isn’t the only passion in his life, however (although he admits that at one point he was training on Christmas day); he has three children and is a keen supporter of sports initiatives, so much so that he set up the Steve Redgrave Trust to further children’s education in sport.
He was awarded a knighthood in 2000 and currently supports UK charity SPARKS, which aids medical research for children.

1. In his first race abroad he learned the French sentence for the starting signal, but it was shouted out in German

2. He recommends that young people keen to row should start at the age of 13

3. The first time his school team took on Eton, they won

4. He stands at a towering 1 metre and 93 cm

5. Margaret Thatcher asked his team not to compete in the 1980 Russian Olympics for political reasons

6. He is dyslexic

7. In 1984 his wife Ann represented the UK in the women’s eight rowing race in the Los Angeles Olympics, USA

8. He was part of the 1989 British bobsleigh team

9. He still loves to compete in the annual Henley regatta

10. He holds five consecutive Olympic gold medals, making him the greatest Olympian Britain has produced

What was the magic ingredient in Steve Redgrave’s ascent to sporting superstardom? His glove and shoe size, it seems. “My sports teacher,” the Olympic champion rower says, “used to look for the kids that had big hands and feet because they would make the best rowers”. And from those humble schoolboy sports beginnings his career has sailed into orbit, with a clutch of international medals. He ranked up a fair share of them from the Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth Games. And with six Olympic medals, five of them gold, he is the greatest Olympian that Britain has produced.

But it hasn’t been a breeze; Steve has overcome serious health problems in his rise to the upper echelons of sport. His battle with diabetes means he has to undertake dialysis for the condition, but it hasn’t dampened his desire for success. Since his diagnosis in 1997, Steve has gone on to win Gold at the Sydney Olympics and the Cologne World Championships. But, as he’s learned, “failing is just as important as winning, because it drives you forward.”

Rowing isn’t the only passion in his life, however (although he admits that at one point he was training on Christmas day); he has three children and is a keen supporter of sports initiatives, so much so that he set up the Steve Redgrave Trust to further children’s education in sport.
He was awarded a knighthood in 2000 and currently supports UK charity SPARKS, which aids medical research for children.

1. In his first race abroad he learned the French sentence for the starting signal, but it was shouted out in German

2. He recommends that young people keen to row should start at the age of 13

3. The first time his school team took on Eton, they won

4. He stands at a towering 1 metre and 93 cm

5. Margaret Thatcher asked his team not to compete in the 1980 Russian Olympics for political reasons

6. He is dyslexic

7. In 1984 his wife Ann represented the UK in the women’s eight rowing race in the Los Angeles Olympics, USA

8. He was part of the 1989 British bobsleigh team

9. He still loves to compete in the annual Henley regatta

10. He holds five consecutive Olympic gold medals, making him the greatest Olympian Britain has produced

Redgrave, the most successful British Olympian in history, talks about how he managed to combine sports and philanthropy, setting up the Steve Redgrave Fund. “Because I had such a long career, I joined in the charity elements when I could.” Because of the length of his professional involvement with sports, he wanted to avoid the usual sportman’s trap; “your sporting career tends to be quite short… you’re not really sure what to do afterwards, and then you get involved in the charity sector.”

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.

Although Redgrave is Britain’s leading athlete and a dedicated philanthropist, he is self effacing; “there’s a lot of people involved with sport who have done quite a lot within charity.”

1. In his first race abroad he learned the French sentence for the starting signal, but it was shouted out in German

2. He recommends that young people keen to row should start at the age of 13

3. The first time his school team took on Eton, they won

4. He stands at a towering 1 metre and 93 cm

5. Margaret Thatcher asked his team not to compete in the 1980 Russian Olympics for political reasons

6. He is dyslexic

7. In 1984 his wife Ann represented the UK in the women’s eight rowing race in the Los Angeles Olympics, USA

8. He was part of the 1989 British bobsleigh team

9. He still loves to compete in the annual Henley regatta

10. He holds five consecutive Olympic gold medals, making him the greatest Olympian Britain has produced

What was the magic ingredient in Steve Redgrave’s ascent to sporting superstardom? His glove and shoe size, it seems. “My sports teacher,” the Olympic champion rower says, “used to look for the kids that had big hands and feet because they would make the best rowers”. And from those humble schoolboy sports beginnings his career has sailed into orbit, with a clutch of international medals. He ranked up a fair share of them from the Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth Games. And with six Olympic medals, five of them gold, he is the greatest Olympian that Britain has produced.

But it hasn’t been a breeze; Steve has overcome serious health problems in his rise to the upper echelons of sport. His battle with diabetes means he has to undertake dialysis for the condition, but it hasn’t dampened his desire for success. Since his diagnosis in 1997, Steve has gone on to win Gold at the Sydney Olympics and the Cologne World Championships. But, as he’s learned, “failing is just as important as winning, because it drives you forward.”

Rowing isn’t the only passion in his life, however (although he admits that at one point he was training on Christmas day); he has three children and is a keen supporter of sports initiatives, so much so that he set up the Steve Redgrave Trust to further children’s education in sport.
He was awarded a knighthood in 2000 and currently supports UK charity SPARKS, which aids medical research for children.