SIR STEVE REDGRAVE'S Olympics rowing guide: Who are Team GB's ones to watch? And legend predicts where golds will be won

When I won my first Olympic gold in 1984, one of the journalists who first came up to me was a man named Richard Burnell. He won gold in the double sculls back in 1948. He said to me: ‘You’re world champion for a year, you’re Olympic champion for life.’ I can’t think of any better words for it than that. This is the pinnacle.

Our men and women going for gold in their boats today and over the next few days in Paris know that. They know the recognition you get in the Olympics is second-to-none.

Winning a world title is special, of course, but it’s just a stepping stone to this. In the three World Championships coming into my first Games, I finished eighth, sixth and was eliminated. Then I became Olympic champion.

Athletes don’t retire after a World Championships, they do after an Olympics. This is their driving force.

We hear a lot around this time about sacrifices. Rowers love to talk about all the sacrifices they made to get here and as pundits and journalists we love to hear all about them.

But when I look back, was it a sacrifice? Not really. Every rower I’ve met, whether they took home gold or didn’t even make finals, they look back with fondness at competing at this level. It is fantastic to be in that less than one per cent able to represent their country at the Olympics.

I watched Nathan Hales win gold in shooting yesterday. I was nervous as hell, shaking like a leaf. He takes his final shot turns to the crowd, breaks his gun and holds it above his head. That’s what it’s all about, to be a part of something special.

Our rowers now have the chance to join him.

Men’s pairs semi-final – Oliver Wynne-Griffith and Tom George

They have been in a pair for a couple of years now and have had some close finishes where they have been on the wrong side of a few fine margins. 

The Croatian Sinkovic brothers won gold in the double scull in Rio and then this event in Tokyo but, at 34 and 36 years old now, are too old really to challenge. Oliver and Tom have dominated this year and I just cannot see anyone 

SIR STEVE’S PREDICTION: Gold. Will ease into final on Wednesday.

Women’s pairs semi-final – Rebecca Edwards and Chloe Brew

Our women’s teams are unbelievable across the board. Ever since Andrew Randell was appointed as Women’s Olympic Head Coach in February 2022, we have gone from strength to strength. I see our women outperforming the men by the time the final rowing medals have been decided. 

So, it’s in this context and against this high standard that I say that the women’s pairs is our weakest boat. I think our other boats could all medal but I can’t see Rebecca and Chloe getting through into the final.

SIR STEVE’S PREDICTION: Fail to qualify.

Lightweight women’s semi-final – Emily Craig and Imogen Grant

If you think Adam Peaty was close to winning gold the other night, just imagine the agony Emily and Imogen went through in Tokyo. They missed out on gold by half a second and on a place on the podium by 0.01 seconds. 

And that’s for 2,000 metres, not just 100! They were so bitterly disappointed. It was there for the taking. They struggled to come to terms with it. They thought about not carrying on but had a sensible conversation with each other, knuckled down and have not been beaten in two years.

This dominance is possible because of all of the support around them, enabled by people playing The National Lottery, but also because they are very driven -

Emily and Imogen are two different characters, both driven in different ways. Imogen is an out-and-out winner. She’s a doctor who’s very single-minded and focused. Out of all of the rowing events, they are the second closest to a nailed-on gold medal in Paris. I think they are only topped by Romania’s women’s eight.

SIR STEVE’S PREDICTION: Gold. They'll cruise through the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Men’s quadruple sculls final – Thomas Barras, Callum Dixon, Matthew Haywood and Graeme Thomas

Three medals up for grabs and four teams who can win one. We are one of them. The others are Netherlands, Italy and Poland.

We took silver three years ago with Thomas the only one left from that boat in Tokyo but they have continued to perform well and consistently despite changes in crew.

I think the Dutch will take gold. They have the basis of the crew that won gold in Tokyo with a world best time and an Olympic record. They are outstanding. They move the boat beautifully. For the neutrals watching, they will be the favourites because they really do look the part.

We’ve never won this event at the Olympics and I can’t see us doing it this time. If the Dutch give them a chance, mind you, they will be quick to take it.

SIR STEVE’S PREDICTION: Bronze.

Women’s quadruple sculls final – Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson, Georgina Brayshaw

I think they’re going to win it. They are reigning world champions and the unity and belief they have, believe me, will have a big say at this level. The team was strong beforehand but since Randell took over, they have pushed on even further.

This event was dominated by the Chinese in the build-up to the last Olympics and this is still the same crew but they are nowhere near the stature they were three years ago. I saw them training in China and they were a tight group, technically wonderful that sculled immaculately. They don’t anymore.

They didn’t have many other tactics other than full-pelt from the off because when they were as quick as they were it didn’t really matter. But they are not in that league these days.

The Dutch are very good and have been knocking on the door for a while. Ukraine, too. If there is anyone who could give us a shock, I think it could be them more than the Chinese.

SIR STEVE’S PREDICTION Gold.

Venue: Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

I’ve raced at this venue before and it was horrible – but that was 30-odd years ago and in May! It’s a big lake that can get affected by the wind, though the conditions have so far been good in Paris. 

If you had to pick a venue you could row forever, this would be near the bottom of the list! But once it gets dressed up for the Olympics, it becomes a special place.

You can hear from Steve at Mail Online in our exclusive video series every day of the Olympic Games.

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