Exclusive: Redgrave Calls for Ainslie Knighthood

Sir Steve Redgrave has called for Ben Ainslie, the multiple Olympic sailing champion and fellow British Olympian, to be knighted even if he fails to defend his Finn title next year in Weymouth as part of the London Games.

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Redgrave, the five time Olympic rowing gold medallist, achieved in five, successive Games from 1984-2000, was himself knighted after becoming the most decorated British Olympian of all time when he clinched his fifth gold to add to a previous bronze at the Sydney 2000 Games.

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Ainslie so far has won a silver at the 1996 Atlanta Games, followed by a gold in the same Laser class in Sydney, and then two more golds in the Finn Class in Athens and in Beijing three years’ ago.

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Sir Chris Hoy was knighted after his feat of winning three gold medals inside the velodrome at the 2008 Beijing Games, to add to a previous gold and silver, and if he were to win one further gold at London in either the team sprint, keirin or individual sprint he would, statistically, overtake Redgrave to become Britain’s most successful Olympic athlete ever.

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Although Redgrave recognises the Scottish cyclist’s feats, it is Ainslie who receives his main plaudits, and who gains his support for a sporting knighthood. �

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“I believe Chris will win a gold medal next year in London and if he does then that will make him the most successful British Olympian ever, although Bradley Wiggins is on six medals already so if he wins a medal he will become the most decorated of all time,” Redgrave explained.

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“I have no problem with that and Chris deserved the accolades that came his way but he has already said himself that he looks up to me because I won golds in five different Games as opposed to being able to win multiple medals in multiple events, as the cyclists do.

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“This is why Ben Ainslie is so high up in my criteria. He has won a silver and three golds in four Olympics in just four opportunities to win any medal at all and has been recognised to be the best Olympic sailor for the past 15 years. If I’ve been knighted, and so has Chris, I cannot understand why Ben has not already also been knighted. I don’t think it should depend on how he fares next year. I believe it should already have happened.

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“I’m not concerned about Chris or Bradley overtaking my record. I have many sporting records over the years of which I am very proud of and, to be honest, I didn’t even know I was the most successful British Olympian until a journalist told me eight years’ later in Beijing. I’m sure one of them, if not both, will overtake my mark and I wish them luck.”

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Redgrave also believes that his female equivalent, Katherine Grainger, will finally come good after three Games of heartache. The Scottish rower has teamed up with Anna Watkins in the double sculls after three successive silver medals at the Olympics. Watkins has got the better of the Scot in the recent trials, but Redgrave believes this can only help.

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“It reminds me of Mathew (Pinsent) and myself in 1996,” he said. “If you’re going to be beaten by someone then it may as well be your partner. Britain have never won a women’s Olympic gold but next year I believe both the quads and double sculls with Katherine will become champions.”

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Elsewhere Redgrave has spoken of his relief to see the public spat between the British Olympic Association and the Games Organising Committee (LOCOG) over funding resolved last week, but also voiced his criticism at the way it was allowed to become so public.

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“I was with the Sports Minister last week (Hugh Robertson) and he was pulling his hair out over the issue,” Redgrave revealed. “Colin (Moynihan) and the BOA were trying to make an issue about something decided before their time. You’d think two conservative lords in Moynihan and Coe might have been able to discuss their difference behind closed doors rather than in the public domain. It embarrassed the London Olympics and the International Olympic Committee but, thankfully, it’s over now and we can all get on in preparing what we hope will be the best Olympics ever.”