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Five in a row

Redgrave extends legacy with fifth gold

James Cracknell, Steven Redgrave, Tim Foster and Matthew Pinsent celebrate sporting their gold medals. AP

PENRITH, Australia (CNNSI.com) -- For the fifth consecutive Olympics, British rower Steven Redgrave is a gold medalist.

Redgrave led Britain to victory Saturday in the men's coxless fours, becoming just the third Olympian to win a gold medal in five consecutive Games.

This victory was a feat in itself for someone who in the past four years has been diagnosed with diabetes and undergone an appendectomy.

"We had to go out there and do our job," said Redgrave, 38, whose health is closely monitored by the team's doctor -- his wife, Ann.

Britain's Great Rower Click the image to launch the clip Steven Redgrave won a gold medal for the fifth straight Olympics. Start Multimedia Central Visit Multimedia Central for all the latest video and audio.

Redgrave moves into the five-in-a-row club with Hungarian fencers Aladar Gerevich and Pal Kovacs.

Gerevich won golds at the six Games from 1932-60 and Kovacs won five from '36-60; there were no Games in '40 and '44 because of World War II.

Winning the fours is somewhat of a return to Redgrave's roots. His first gold was in the coxed fours in Los Angeles. Victories in Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta were in the coxless pairs.

Matthew Pinsent, Redgrave's partner for the last two golds, joined him in this boat along with Tim Foster and James Cracknell.

Pinsent, Foster and Cracknell all raised their arms in victory after crossing the finish. Redgrave was content just to stop pulling.

Pinsent walked back to his friend and they hugged, then Pinsent -- who carried the British flag at the Opening Ceremonies, just as Redgrave did at the two previous Olympics -- lost his balance and wound up wet.

Redgrave loved it.

"He might not be [rowing] in four years time. The way he moved after the race, he'll be back in the gymnastics team," Redgrave said.

As for Redgrave, it's impossible to count him out of Athens.

After winning in Atlanta, he looked into a television camera and said: "Anyone who sees me go anywhere near a boat again, ever, you've got my permission to shoot me."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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