The Paddler

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Sir Steve Redgrave
Sir Steve Redgrave
Sir Steve Redgrave paddling at the Pangbourne Hasler
As we countdown to the London
2012 Olympics, Sir Steve has
decided to keep a diary in the
year running up to the big event.
Here, he shares his thoughts and
experiences as he fulfils his roles
as ambassador for Team GB
for the British Olympic Association,
President of British Rowing,
ambassador for Visa, Worldwide
Sponsor of the Olympic Games,
commentator and pundit for the
BBC and as a spectator and
huge fan of the Olympic Games.
Countdown to London 2012:
And now for something
different...18th October 2011 In
my latest book, Greatest Olympic
Moments, Birgit Fischer is featured
together with her extraordinary
Olympic medal haul, which
eclipses my own and almost
everyone else’s with a total of
eight Gold medals over six Olympic
Games from 1980 to 2004.
Her sport of choice was kayaking
which, at the time of writing the
book, was a sport that I had tried
but had been unceremoniously
dumped from the boat within four
seconds.
I don’t know if Birgit’s
success or my failure was at the
root of my recent decision to try
kayaking again, but six weeks ago
I was back on the water and back
in a boat only this time, it was a
kayak. The good news is I managed
to stay in the kayak for more
than four seconds.
I started my new challenge
on 20th September, 2011, at
the Pangbourne Marathon. I am
told there were a lot of surprised
expressions as I lined up for the
Division 9 race, the lowest division
in the competition.
Being able to see where
you’re going is an odd sensation
but I wouldn’t say it was a good
one, especially when there is a
four mile course ahead of you.
In rowing, you know you have a
long way to go but you don’t have
to see it and you definitely don’t
chose to visualise it but, in kayaking,
there is no choice.
I managed to finish second,
a minute behind the winner but
with a time that would have
earned victory over all the Division
8 competitors. For better or
worse, I will not get the opportunity
to turn a theoretical victory
into a reality as my time saw me
promoted to Division 7 for the
next race.
The ultimate challenge for
my new venture will be the 125
mile Devizes Westminster International
Canoe Marathon. This
is the longest non-stop canoe
race in the world and I only have
until next April to get ready. I will
be competing with my old friend,
Roger Hatfield, so when the
Hasler Trophy races took place in
Henley on 27th September, Roger
and I lined up for our race, this
time in Division 6.
After being cut up in the
early stages of the race, we
fought back to take third place. At
just under a minute a half behind
the winners, it wasn’t a bad debut
in the two portage race but watch
this space, I haven’t built a reputation
on coming second or fourth
and I am not about to break the
habit of a lifetime. At least, that’s
not the plan.
“In my latest book, Greatest Olympic Moments, Birgit
Fischer is featured together with her extraordinary Olympic
medal haul, which eclipses my own and almost everyone
else’s with a total of eight Gold medals over six Olympic
Games from 1980 to 2004. old meals over six Olympic
Games from 1980 to 2004.”
Sir Steve Redgrave
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http://www.steveredgrave.com/olympicdiary.html