Sir Steve Redgrave

Sir Steve Redgrave is one of Britain’s greatest ever athletes, having won five gold medals in five successive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000. He now works and travels extensively in the UK and overseas as a sporting ambassador for the UK, and is focused on nurturing the next generation of athletes. Watch his short film below

Sir Steve was introduced to rowing over 30 years ago, seeing it in part as a way of getting out onto the river during school-time. After competing at local and then national level he moved onto the world stage and became one of the most successful athletes in Olympic history. He has seen the UK go from being a country that had a tendency to play down its sporting abilities to a nation that’s now comfortable winning medals at big sporting events.

Sir Steve is proud to be British and believes that representing your country overseas is a great honour, whether you’re an athlete or a diplomat. He was involved in London’s bid to host the 2012 Games and relished the opportunity, remembering the elation when the UK was announced as the winner. He would love to compete again at the 2012 Games but recognises this might be ambitious as a 50 year old. He’s now focussed on nurturing the next generation of athletes.

Sir Steve travels overseas a lot as a sporting ambassador for the UK. The UK does a lot with sport internationally. Sport Relief is an example of how the UK provides international humanitarian relief by raising money through sporting endeavours. Meanwhile, the International Inspiration Programme embodies the commitment made by the London 2012 bid team to reach 12 million children in 20 countries around the world. There’s a strong drive to use the power of the Games and sport to enrich the lives of children and young people of all abilities, in schools and communities across the world - particularly in developing countries - through the power of high quality and inclusive physical education, sport and play.

Sir Steve won an incredible five Golds in five successive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000. Already established as the world's most outstanding rower of all time after his Atlanta victory, Steve decided to carry on competing through to the 2000 Games in Sydney in the hope of winning a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. His success in this feat confirmed him as one of the greatest athletes in Olympic history. He and partner Matthew Pinsent held the World Record in Coxless Pairs set in Lucerne in 1994 until 2002, and Steve still retains the Olympic Record, set in Atlanta in 1996.

Sir Steve was awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List in 1987 and the CBE in the 1997 New Years Honours list. Following his success in Sydney, he was awarded a Knighthood in the 2001 New Years Honours List.