Sir Steve Redgrave star Q&A 

Round & About

Sir Steve Redgrave reflects on life in Marlow, school, sport, wellbeing and what truly matters in life

Q. Hello Sir Steve! Please tell us what you love about this part of the world. “Being born and bred in Marlow for several generations the river has always played a major part in my life. My father in his youth used to paint Marlow Bridge. Together we used to go fishing, which is really surprising as we both hated it!”   

Q. Did you enjoy school? “My first school was St Peters Street; my memory is not good enough to recall too much, but I do remember being taking out a few yards down the slipway opposite the weir to the water’s edge. Perhaps it was written in the stars that the only memory I have from infant school was the river. My next move was to Holy Trinity. That was my first introduction into sports that I remember and the start of getting the love for competing. After two years I moved to Burford School in Marlow Bottom; we lived next door. That was fun, especially as my year group were the oldest for two years, but there was a policy of non-competitive sport. I don’t know if this gave me more hunger to compete when moving on. Some of our parents however felt this wasn’t right and so organised football matches with other communities. One being the American base at High Wycombe. I then moved to Great Marlow School. This is where I was introduced to rowing and I have very fond memories of the school.”   

Q. When you look back at your five Olympic golds, what moment stands out most vividly to you now? “I think the first in LA. As a young athlete winning Olympic gold medal is the ultimate dream within my sport. And this moment came true in 1984.” 
 
Q. Many young athletes cite you as an inspiration. Who was your hero growing up? And now? “Mark Spitz was somebody I looked up to when I was 10. He was competing at the Munich Games in 1972 winning seven gold medals all in world record times. I thought ‘wouldn’t it be amazing to win one!’ It was still four years until my sport found me. I admire anyone that gets the best out of their abilities. This doesn’t have to be winning.”   

Q. How do you feel about the Thames – what would you do to help protect the water? “Our waterways have been going through crisis for a few generations. Underdevelopment from the waterways has culminated in our water companies dumping raw sewage into our seas, lakes and rivers. This is just not acceptable. If raw sewage was dumped in our high streets something would be done about it immediately. We need to act quickly to put this wrong right. It will take a decade or more to complete and that is why we need to start now to make sure our environment and beautiful country stays at a level for us all to enjoy.”   

Q. Has your understanding of success changed over time? And what does wellbeing mean to you now? “Most people’s understanding is to win. I think the reality is achieving your best abilities from the talent you have been given. Wellbeing is a difficult one. Life can throw up so many different equations wellbeing can be physical or mental but the reality is it’s a combination of both. Wellbeing to me is seeing the next generation living with the challenges of life. now being a grandfather seeing little ones with such joy, that rubs off on you.”   

Q. How would you like your legacy to be thought of by future generations? “I feel this is more for others to decide. I suppose on my headstone saying something like ‘he did it right’. This is much wider than competing at the highest level. Touching people’s lives to inspire them to get the most our of theirs.”   

Q. What would you say to anyone who is averse to exercise – is it ever too late to start? “It’s never too late to start, but what do you mean by exercise? I feel it’s important that we stay active so it can be as simple as a short walk every day. No-one needs to do exercise to the extreme unless their ambition leads them that way.  Movement and fresh air are much more important than the word exercise.”   

Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever had? “From my first international coach ‘miles make champions’” 
 
Q. What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? “I competed in the British bobsleigh team and in a number of world cup races, but became British champion in the four-man bob in 1989, just missing out on selection for the Calgary Winter Olympics”   

Q. Is there a film you can watch again and again? “I’m not a big film watcher, but I do flick through the channels.  I’ve seen the middle and ends of lots of films. Someday I will need to see how they start!”   

Q. What’s your favourite book? “I’m not a big reader so books aren’t really part of my lifestyle.” 

Q. What music instantly puts you in a good mood? “Most of my music enjoyment comes from the 1970s and ’80s. I can listen to most genres, but what gives me the most enjoyment is playing Beat The Intro with my family, which drives them mad and makes me want to do it more!”   

Q. What do you think communities can do to help children and teenagers embrace sport and healthy activity? “Making sport fun at a young age. Francis Smith, Head of the English department at Great Marlow School, made it fun for all the people he invited to row. Through this experience it changed all our lives for the better.  If you can make sport or activity fun then you are more likely to stay with it and achieve so much more within sport and life.”   

Q. You’ve been a great advocate of mental health as well as physical. How do you take good care of your mental health? “I try to play golf twice a week. It’s great catching up with friends whilst participating in a social activity, but I’m not sure the game itself helps your wellbeing…  it’s so frustrating, but I wouldn’t change it.”   

Q. What advice would you have for any youngsters out there who are struggling or feeling a bit lost ? “Seek support. Particularly as males, we tend to bottle it all up and hope it will pass, but rarely it does. There are so many good people out there that can help you.”   

Q. What invention would radically improve the quality of your life? “The banning of mobile phones and emails. Wasn’t life so much simpler before these digital communications.”   

Q. If you had a magic wand, what would you wish for? “A world without disagreements or war.”