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PalaceFan in Alabama
23-09-2000, 10:08 AM
STEVE REDGRAVE has become the greatest ever Olympian after winning an incredible fifth gold medal in the Men's Coxless Fours rowing final.

Strange how there is no mention of this on American TV?
Les Butler
23-09-2000, 11:00 AM
Not strange at all PFIA !
Why the yanks bother at all going to the Olympics I just don't know.
They might as well have there own games (like the "world series" in baseball) and tell the world how wonderful they are so we don't have to gag each time the American commentator tells us why a yank did not win a meddle.
SE25 exile
23-09-2000, 12:03 PM
It's gotta be another Sir Steve surely?
richit
24-09-2000, 03:50 AM
He deserves it. He's already been invited to the palace for tea, so he must be quite a favourite there.
Vic Eagle
24-09-2000, 05:42 AM
Originally posted by PalaceFan in Alabama:
Strange how there is no mention of this on American TV?


Also see my other thread for Australian 'priorities'...I must admit though that the Australian coverage wasn't bad, especially ABC radio. But IMHO Channel 7 over here a making an absolute pig's ear of covering the Olympics...with the hon. exception of Roy and HG (see yet another thread)...
Vic Eagle
24-09-2000, 05:44 AM
BTW, ABC radio over here made a point of saying that Sir Stephen R was the first olympian to win 5 successive gold medals in an endurance event.

Any trivia buffs know the record in a non-endurance event?
richit
24-09-2000, 02:59 PM
some guy got 6 in fencing in successeive games, which is why they're saying greatest endurance olympian ever.
henryhallandhisbasque
24-09-2000, 07:07 PM
Arguably the finest Olympic achievement in terms of gold medals won, and certainly in terms of competition longevity is that of Hungarian fencer Aladar Gerevich (1910-).

Gerevich won the sixth of his gold medals all from the sabre team competition when he was 50, the first at 22, but for WW2 intervening he would probably have won a further two golds in 40 and 44.

That said, fencing can hardly be called an endurance sport, and what Steve Redgrave has done in the physically arduous sport of rowing, with the added burden of suffering from diabetes and colitis to contend with is truly awe inspiring.

With respect to those who have been privately educated, it is also nice to see somebody from a so called 'ordinary' background sustain great success in a sport dominated by university types from well-heeled upbringings.

Redgrave is a man of the people, and when you look at some of the deadwood that gets knighted, is certainly worthy of that honour.
Vic Eagle
25-09-2000, 04:33 AM
Ah yes, it was in the Melbourne 'Age' this morning, a fencer between the years 1932 and 1960. Not a bad effort considering he could have won eight golds if WW2 hadn't intervened...
Man of Kent
25-09-2000, 04:44 AM
Nuff respect to Steve Redgrave, but don't you wish he could be a little less modest? The man's a hero for goodness sake, he lifted my spirits up at 12.30am on Saturday morning but I just wish he could get rid of this 'another day at the office' type of reply when interviewed. I don't want a Yank 'I am the greatest' type of rant but see Denise Lewis about half an hour ago to see how to celebrate.
Skid Row
28-09-2000, 06:58 AM
That's all very touching and it is a remarkeable effort to win 5 gold medals in a row (get it?) but I have much more respect for someone like Carl Lewis for example who won most of his gold medals INDIVIDUALLY. It's obvious to me that if he didnt have partners who were also top notch athletes in their own right then he wouldnt have won jack and you or anyone else wouldnt have a clue who the frig he was.

Still a good effort and he ought to be commended.
philaire
28-09-2000, 09:22 AM
Originally posted by Skid Row:
I have much more respect for someone like Carl Lewis for example who won most of his gold medals INDIVIDUALLY.
Agreed. Case in point the US swimmer Jenny Campbell - 5 gold medals, all in relays.

Still, yes, well done, Steven whatshisface, best ever BRITISH Olympian.
selhurstparkflyer
28-09-2000, 12:26 PM
we can debate all day whether sir steve jnr is the greatest ever olympian.
however, the comparison wit carl lewis is not the same.
lewis did it over only 4 olympics (the first with a boycott going on).
also rowing is a sport that takes up far more endurance and personal time than other sport...lewis last 2 olympics he won gold in the long jump..amazing but hardly comparable.
also sir steve jnr has had to contend with coltis and diabetes over the last 2 years...that really is something special.

to put it in perspective, i saw one of the gold winning eight crew interviewed saying that rowing had taken up his life and he broke off an engagement, so he was retiring..he was 24 and this was his first olympics!!!
Skid Row
29-09-2000, 02:28 AM
764
Ofcourse you're going to take the side of the British selhurstparkflyer and that's only natural but from a neutral standpoint, Carl is a class above. If Steve had have had to deal with coitus and diabetes for his whole life and not just the past 2 years then you may have an argument.

I'd also like to know how you know how much time Carl Lewis trained compared to Redgrave?
interested in sydney.
02-10-2000, 11:40 AM
I'd like to know how much money Lewis made compared to Steve Redgrave.
JohnA
04-03-2001, 06:00 PM
My niece (15 in a month) is an Irish international rower - She is a single sculler. She even won a (domestic) senior race last month & last July won the Under 18 4 Nations title.

Somehow she got hold of (the other) Sir Steve's E Mail address. She E mailed him and got a really pleasant reply (not even a standard fob-off). I wonder how many olympians, never mind of the Redgrave class, & footballers would have taken the time & effort to reply to a 15 year old in another country?


[This message has been edited by JohnA (edited 04 March 2001).]
interested in sydney.
05-03-2001, 10:57 AM
Don't know about olympians but I know the late Sir Don replied to every letter he received .It was thought he wrote over a million letters during his life.
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