When I won my first Olympic gold in 1984, one of the journalists who came up to me first, a man called Richard Burnell, who won gold in the double sculls in 1948, said to me, ‘You’re world champion for a year, you’re Olympic champion for life.’ I can’t think of a better word for it. This is the pinnacle.
Our men and women who are going for gold in their boats in Paris today and in the coming days know that. They know that the recognition you get at the Olympics is unparalleled.
Winning a world title is special of course, but it is only a stepping stone to this. In the three world championships before my first Games I came eighth, sixth and was eliminated. Then I became Olympic champion.
Athletes don’t stop after a World Cup, but after the Olympic Games. That’s their motivation.
We hear a lot about sacrifices around this time. Rowers love to talk about all the sacrifices they have made to get here and as experts and journalists we love to hear all about it.
British rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave has previewed Team GB’s medal chances at the Paris Games
Redgrave is the most successful male rower in Olympic history, having won a gold medal at five consecutive Games from 1984 to 2000
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But looking back, was it a sacrifice? Not really. Every rower I’ve met, whether they took home gold or didn’t even make the final, looks back fondly on competing at this level. It’s great to be in the less than one percent who can represent their country at the Olympics.
I saw Nathan Hales win gold in shooting yesterday. I was terrified and shaking like a leaf. He takes his last shot at the crowd, breaks his gun and holds it above his head. That’s what it’s all about, being a part of something special.
Our rowers now have the chance to join him.
Men’s Pairs Semi-Final – Oliver Wynne-Griffith and Tom George
They have been playing together for a few years now and have won a few close games, but sometimes they just missed out.
The Croatian Sinkovic brothers won gold in the double sculls in Rio and then this event in Tokyo, but are now 34 and 36 and too old to really challenge. Oliver and Tom have dominated this year and I just can’t imagine anyone
SIR STEVE’S PREDICTION: Gold. Will gradually reach the final on Wednesday.
Redgrave believes Oliver Wynne-Griffith (left) and Tom George (right) will prove too strong for their opponents after their dominant year
Women’s pairs semi-final – Rebecca Edwards and Chloe Brew
Our women’s teams are incredible across the board. Since Andrew Randell was appointed head coach of the Women’s Olympic in February 2022, we have gone from strength to strength. I can see our women outpacing the men by the time the final rowing medals are decided.
So, it is in this context and against this high standard that I say the women’s pairs are our weakest boat. I think our other boats can all win a medal, but I can’t see Rebecca and Chloe making it to the final.
SIR STEVE’S PREDICTION: We don’t qualify.
Rebecca Edwards (right) and Chloe Brew (left) have a tough task to qualify for the women’s pairs final
Women’s Lightweight Semi-Final – Emily Craig and Imogen Grant
If you think Adam Peaty came close to winning gold the other night, imagine the agony Emily and Imogen went through in Tokyo, missing out on gold by half a second and a podium finish by 0.01 seconds.
And that for 2000 meters, not just 100! They were so bitterly disappointed. It was there for the taking. They struggled to deal with it. They thought about not continuing, but had a sensible talk with each other, continued and have not been defeated for two years.
This dominance is possible thanks to all the support around them, made possible by people who play the National Lottery, but also because they are very driven –
Emily and Imogen are two different characters, both driven in different ways. Imogen is an absolute winner. She is a doctor who is very goal-oriented and focused. Of all the rowing competitions, they are the second closest to a gold medal in Paris. I think they are only surpassed by the Romanian women’s eight.
SIR STEVE’S PREDICTION: Gold. They’ll go through to the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Redgrave has backed Emily Craig (left) and Imogen Grant (right) to use their Tokyo as fuel for success in Paris
Men’s Quadruple Sculls Final – Thomas Barras, Callum Dixon, Matthew Haywood and Graeme Thomas
Three medals to win and four teams that can win one. We are one of them. The others are the Netherlands, Italy and Poland.
Three years ago we won silver with Thomas, the only one left from that boat in Tokyo, but they kept performing well and consistently despite the crew changes.
I think the Dutch will win gold. They have the base of the team that won gold in Tokyo with a world record and an Olympic record. They are excellent. They move the boat beautifully. For the neutral spectators they will be the favorites because they look really good.
We have never won this event at the Olympics and I don’t see us doing it this time either. If the Dutch give them a chance, they will seize it quickly.
SIR STEVE’S PREDICTION: Bronze.
Thomas Barras, Callum Dixon, Matthew Haywood and Graeme Thomas (LR) will battle it out in an incredibly competitive men’s quadruple sculls final, where up to four teams can win gold
Women’s Quadruple Sculls Final – Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson, Georgina Brayshaw
I think they will win it. They are reigning world champions and the unity and belief they have, believe me, will play a big role at this level. The team was strong before, but since Randell took over, they have gone even further.
This event was dominated by the Chinese in the run up to the last Olympics and it is still the same team but they are not as big as they were three years ago. I saw them training in China and they were a tight group, technically great and their sculling is flawless. They don’t do that anymore.
They didn’t have many tactics other than full-pelt from the start, because when they were as fast as they were, it didn’t really matter. But they’re not in that league anymore.
The Dutch are very good and have been knocking on the door for a while. Ukraine too. If anyone can give us a shock, I think it is them more than the Chinese.
THE PREDICTION OF SIR STEVE Gold.
Redgrave has backed Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson and Georgina Brayshaw (LR) to add the Olympic title to their World Championship success
Location: Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium
I’ve raced at this venue before and it was awful – but that was 30 years ago and in May! It’s a big lake that can be affected by the wind, although conditions have been good so far in Paris.
If you had to choose a place where you could row forever, this would be at the bottom of the list! But once it gets dressed up for the Olympics, it will be a special place.
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