Steve Redgrave facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sir Steve Redgrave
CBE DL

Redgrave in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Steven Geoffrey Redgrave
Born	(1962-03-23) 23 March 1962 (age 63) Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England
Education	Great Marlow School
Occupation	Rower
Height	6 feet 4.75 inches (1.95 m)
Weight	16 stone 2 pounds (103 kg) (2000)
Spouse(s)	Ann Redgrave
Sport
Country	Great Britain
Sport	Men's Rowing
Club	Marlow Rowing Club Leander Club
Team	GB Rowing Team
Coached by	Mike Spracklen Jürgen Gröbler
Retired	2000
Medal record Men's rowing Representing  Great Britain Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles Coxed four Gold 1988 Seoul Coxless pair Gold 1992 Barcelona Coxless pair Gold 1996 Atlanta Coxless pair Gold 2000 Sydney Coxless four Bronze 1988 Seoul Coxed pair World Championships Gold 1986 Nottingham Coxed pair Gold 1987 Copenhagen Coxless pair Gold 1991 Vienna Coxless pair Gold 1993 Račice Coxless pair Gold 1994 Indianapolis Coxless pair Gold 1995 Tampere Coxless pair Gold 1997 Aiguebelette Coxless four Gold 1998 Cologne Coxless Four Gold 1999 St. Catharines Coxless four Silver 1987 Copenhagen Coxed pair Silver 1989 Bled Coxless pair Bronze 1990 Tasmania Coxless pair Representing  England Commonwealth Games Gold 1986 Edinburgh Single sculls Gold 1986 Edinburgh Coxless pair Gold 1986 Edinburgh Coxed four
Updated on 6 November 2016.

Sir Steve Redgrave, born on March 23, 1962, is a famous British rower. He won gold medals at five Olympic Games in a row, from 1984 to 2000. He also earned three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and nine at the World Rowing Championships. He is known as the most successful male rower in Olympic history. He is the only man to win gold medals at five Olympics in an endurance sport.

Many people consider Redgrave one of Britain's greatest Olympians ever. When he retired in 2000, he was the most successful British Olympian. As of 2025, he is the fifth most successful British Olympian. Other top British Olympians include cyclists Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Jason Kenny, Sir Bradley Wiggins, and Dame Laura Kenny. Sir Steve Redgrave is the only one of these five who was not a track cyclist. He carried the British flag at the opening of the Olympic Games twice. In 2002, he was ranked number 36 in a BBC poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. He received a special Lifetime Achievement Award from BBC Sports in 2011.

Redgrave often raced in pairs and foursomes. He is most famous for rowing with his long-time teammate, Sir Matthew Pinsent. Together, they won three Olympic gold medals and seven World Championship titles.

Early Life and School

Statue of Redgrave in Higginson Park, Marlow

Steve Redgrave was born in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England. His father, Geoffrey Edward Redgrave, was a builder who served in the Second World War. His mother was Sheila Marion. Steve went to Great Marlow School.

Rowing Career Highlights

Redgrave mainly competed in sweep rowing. This is where each rower uses one oar. He won Olympic gold medals rowing on both sides of the boat.

From 1991 onwards, the teams he was part of were incredibly strong. They won almost every race they entered. Many people thought Redgrave and Pinsent were the best two individual sweep rowers in the world.

Steve Redgrave faced health challenges during his career. In 1992, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. In 1997, he learned he had diabetes mellitus type 2.

Olympic Games Success

Redgrave won gold medals at five Olympic Games in a row. These victories happened from 1984 to 2000. He also won a bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

After winning gold in 1996, he famously said he would quit rowing. He joked that if anyone saw him near a rowing boat again, they could "shoot me." But he soon changed his mind and started training again. The gold medal he won with Matthew Pinsent in 1996 was very special. It was the only gold medal won by the entire British team at those games.

In 2000, he won his fifth Olympic gold medal. After this, he retired from the sport. Before his last Olympics, the BBC showed a documentary called Gold Fever. It followed his team as they prepared for the games. It showed their ups and downs and Redgrave's health struggles. At the medal ceremony in 2000, he received a special gold Olympic pin. This was to celebrate his amazing achievement.

World Championships Victories

At the World Rowing Championships, Steve Redgrave won nine gold medals. He also earned two silver medals and one bronze medal.

He won the World Championship for Indoor rowing in 1991.

Henley Royal Regatta Wins

He competed at Henley Royal Regatta for over twenty years. He won many races there. These included the Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup seven times. He also won the Stewards' Challenge Cup five times. He won the Diamond Challenge Sculls twice.

Wingfield Sculls Triumphs

He won the Wingfield Sculls for single scullers five times. These wins were between 1985 and 1989.

Life After Rowing

In April 2006, Redgrave finished his third London Marathon. He raised a lot of money for charity.

He appeared on Top Ground Gear Force in 2008 for Sport Relief. The Top Gear team famously messed up his garden.

He started his own clothing brand called FiveG. It sold Fairtrade Cotton clothes in Debenhams stores.

He helped start a rowing academy in India at Lavasa. This is a new city near Pune City.

In April 2008, Redgrave took part in the Olympic Torch relay for the Beijing games. He was also one of the final torch-bearers for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He carried the torch into the stadium. Seven young athletes then lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony.

He became a Patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport in 2010.

In 2012, he tried kayaking and entered a marathon kayak race. He had to stop halfway because he was too tired.

He rowed on the Gloriana for the royal pageant. This was part of the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

In August 2014, Redgrave was one of 200 public figures. They signed a letter hoping Scotland would stay part of the United Kingdom. This was for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

In May 2018, Redgrave became the High-Level Performance Director for the Chinese Rowing Association. He helped China's rowing team aim for gold medals.

In 2025, Redgrave appeared as a contestant on the seventeenth series of Dancing on Ice.

Personal Life

Redgrave in 2011

He married Ann Callaway, now Lady Ann Redgrave, in 1988. She was also a top rower. She represented Great Britain in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She worked as the Chief Medical Officer for the GB rowing team. Steve is the honorary president of British Rowing.

Redgrave has three children: Natalie, Sophie, and Zak. Natalie rowed for the Oxford University Women's Boat Club. Her team won the women's boat race in 2011.

He is a big fan of Chelsea Football Club.

Honours and Awards

Redgrave received several important honours. He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1987. He was then promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1997. In 2001, he was made a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II. This was for his great service to rowing.

He was voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2000. He also received the BBC Sports – Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

He has received several honorary degrees from universities. These include Heriot Watt University and Loughborough University.

In 2000, his fifth Olympic gold medal was voted the greatest sporting moment. This was in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.

The Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake was opened by him and Matthew Pinsent in 2006. This lake and boathouse help the GB rowing squad train.

In 2013, the University of Edinburgh gave him an honorary doctorate. This was for his amazing sports achievements.

Achievements Summary

• Olympic medals: 5 gold, 1 bronze
• World Championship medals: 9 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
• Junior World Championship medals: 1 silver
• Henley Royal Regatta: 19 wins

Olympic Games Medals

• 2000 – Gold, Coxless Four
• 1996 – Gold, Coxless Pair
• 1992 – Gold, Coxless Pair
• 1988 – Gold, Coxless Pair
• 1988 – Bronze, Coxed Pair
• 1984 – Gold, Coxed Four

World Rowing Championships Medals

Junior World Rowing Championships Medals

• 1980 – Silver, Double Sculls

Henley Royal Regatta Wins

Other Achievements

• 1996 – Winner of Celebrity Gladiators
• 2000 – BBC Sports Personality of the Year
• 2001 – Received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II
• 2001 – Received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University
• 2010 – Awarded an honorary degree from the University of St Andrews
• 2011 – BBC Sports – Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2012 – Carried the London 2012 Olympic Torch into the Olympic Stadium
• 2013 – Awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Edinburgh

See also

In Spanish: Steve Redgrave para niños

• Jack Beresford, rower, Britain's most successful Olympian prior to Redgrave's fourth gold medal, with three gold and two silver medals from 1920 to 1936
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event
• List of people diagnosed with ulcerative colitis