Steve Redgrave factfile and podcast

Aug 11 2008 The Journal

SIR Steve Redgrave has given his backing to the current Olympic rowing team.

Britain's most successful Olympic rower won five consecutive gold medals between 1984 and 2000, but said the glory days of British rowing have not stopped with his retirement.

1962: Born in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

1978: Left school to pursue career in rowing.

1979: Competed in Single Sculls at the World Junior Championships.

1980: Silver medallist in Double Sculls at the World Junior Rowing Championships.

1981: Made senior British debut, finishing eighth in World Championships in Quadruple Scull.

1982: Sixth in Quadruple Scull at World Championships.

1984: Won first Olympic title in Los Angeles in the Coxed Four having been persuaded to take a break from sculling.

1985: Finished 12th in Single Sculls at World Championships.

1986: Won first World Championship title in Coxed Pair. Triple gold medallist in Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in Single Scull, Coxless Pair and Coxed Four.

1987: Won Coxless Pair gold medal at World Championships, silver medallist in Coxed Pair.

1988: Crowned Olympic champion for second time in Seoul in Coxless Pair with Andy Holmes, a team-mate from the victorious Coxed Four in Los Angeles. Also wins bronze in Coxed Pair.

1989: Takes silver medal in Coxless Pair at World Championships with new partner Simon Berrisford, also finishes fifth in Coxed Pair.

1990: Bronze medallist at World Championships in Coxless Pair with Matthew Pinsent, who replaced Berrisford after he suffered a serious back injury.

1991: Wins World Championships in Coxless Pair for first time with Pinsent.

1992: Completes Olympic Games hat-trick with gold in the Coxless Pair in Barcelona with Matthew Pinsent. The pair triumph despite Redgrave falling ill just a few months before the Games.

1993: Wins Coxless Pair at World Championships.

1994: Retains World Coxless Pair title.

1995: Again crowned World Champion in Coxless Pair.

1996: Retains Olympic Games Coxless Pair title with Pinsent in Atlanta, saying he is to be `shot' if ever seen near a boat again. Redgrave also became first British athlete to carry the flag at the opening ceremony in two successive Olympics.

1997: Wins World Championships in Coxless Four having, after talks with his wife and children, decided to come out of retirement. Also wins FISA World Cup title.

1998: Retains Coxless Four title at worlds having learned that he was suffering from late-onset diabetes.

1999: Completes a hat-trick of World Championship victories in Coxless Four.

Wins FISA World Cup.

2000: Wins FISA World Cup despite defeat in final meeting, only second time he and Pinsent had been beaten in a major race since 1992.

September 23 - becomes first athlete to win five golds in an endurance event at consecutive Olympics when he, Matthew Pinsent, James Cracknell and Tim Foster capture men's coxless four title in Sydney.

November - Elected as vice-president of the British Olympic Association, the highest honour the body can award.

December - Named BBC Sports Personality of Year. Also awarded sportsman of the year by the Sports Writers' Association.

2001: January - Knighted in the New Year Honours List. Comes third in the European sportsman of the year awards poll conducted by the European Sports Writers' Union.

May 22: Receives the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award at a glittering ceremony in Monte Carlo.

July 8 - Claimed his 20th Henley Royal Regatta title, when his Leander Club crew took victory in the Queen Mother Challenge Cup.

September 14 - Redgrave's epic triumph in winning five Olympic gold medals is rewarded by being named the best sporting moment between the years 1976-2001 as part of a poll of the greatest sports performances of the century.

2005: July - Joins a host of ex-Olympians and current sports stars in Singapore to attempt to persuade the International Olympic Committee that London should host the 2012 Olympic Games.