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Sir Stephen Redgrave CBE, or more commonly Steve Redgrave, is a British rower who won a gold medal at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000. As the only Briton ever to achieve this feat, he is widely considered to be Britain's greatest Olympian. Only four other Olympians achieved the same: Pál Kovács, Aladár Gerevich, Reiner Klimke and Birgit Fischer1.
Redgrave won gold medals;
- in 1984, in Los Angeles, in the Coxed Fours.
- in 1988, in Seoul, in the Coxless Pairs with Andy Holmes.
- in 1992, in Barcelona, in the Coxless Pairs with Matthew Pinsent.
- in 1996, in Atlanta, again in the Coxless Pairs with Matthew Pinsent.
- in 2000, in Sydney, in the Coxless Fours.
Having won his fourth gold medal in Atlanta Redgrave, when asked if he would be competing in Sydney four years hence, said, live on British television, "Anyone who sees me go anywhere near a boat again, ever, you've got my permission to shoot me.". In 1997, Redgrave reversed his decision and announced his intention to compete in Sydney. He finally retired after his fifth consecutive success.
- Birgit Fischer did not technically win gold in five Olympics in a row, as her country (East Germany) boycotted the 1984 Olympics. She win gold in 1980, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 - arguably an even more impressive achievement.
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