Sir Steve Redgrave

The 23rd September 2000 was guaranteed a special place in the history of the Olympic Games, when Britain's Sir Steve Redgrave won his fifth gold medal in five successive Games - Los Angeles, Seoul, Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney. Redgrave's feat is unique in the annals of Olympic endurance achievements and, in the words of IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, 'Raises Sir Steve Redgrave to the highest rank of Olympic participants.' But perhaps even more impressive than Redgrave's extraordinary athletic performances themselves, is the fact that they were achieved against a background of serious illnesses. He nearly missed the Atlanta Games due to colitis, for which he still receives treatment, and in 1997 he was diagnosed as diabetic, which requires him to have six insulin injections per day to keep it under control. In addition to inspiring business audiences around the world, Sir Steve also runs The Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust which is raising £5 million over the next five years for children's charities.