Redgrave named Sports Personality of the year

Olympic legend Steve Redgrave, who was last night named the first BBC Sports Personality of the Year of the 21st century, has backed Britain's Olympians to beat Sydney's golden haul in four years time.

Champion oarsman Redgrave, 38, won his fifth Olympic gold medal as part of the triumphant coxless fours team Down Under and finished ahead of fellow Olympians, heptathlete Denise Lewis and Tanni Grey-Thompson, Britain's outstanding competitor at the Paralympics, in the public's vote. Redgrave admitted he was honoured to have been named as the winner of the award in his last year in international competition.

He thanked the public for voting for him and backed Britain's athletes to better their tally of 11 gold medals when the Games go to Athens in 2004. "Sydney was a very special Olympics for many reasons; but one of the strongest memories I have is the bond and the friendship of the athletes competing there," said Redgrave. "I think that really shone through for British sport and also for the British public. I think 11 gold medals was a pretty good tally; I think we can still do better than that. In four years' time I won't be there, but there will be a lot of people who will be winning medals for our country. I am convinced of that. It gave our country great honour for those two weeks and in the celebrations since we returned. I know a few of them will be retiring and a few of them will be carrying on, and there will be a few more coming through and I wish them all success in their sporting careers."

Redgrave's team-mate Matthew Pinsent, a three-time gold medal winner himself, was bestowed with special praise by the winner, with former England soccer captain Alan Shearer presenting the award. Fellow crew members James Cracknell and Tim Foster were also present as Redgrave received the honour and in a double coup for rowing, Jurgen Grobler was named coach of the year. Redgrave, born in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, cited American swimming sensation Mark Spitz as his childhood inspiration to tread the Olympic path. But his tribute to great friend Pinsent clearly moved a man of stern stock - his triumph all the more great as he has had to deal with living the life of a diabetic - who announced his international retirement on his return from Australia.

"I have rowed with 10 people to achieve the medals at World, Olympic and Commonwealth Games," said Redgrave on receiving his award. "I would like to mention all of them but I am only going to pick out one. And that's the one that I have rowed with for the last 10 years. It's someone that's won three Olympic gold medals consecutively - an outstanding athlete in his own right - who for the last 10 years has been overshadowed by one other. And each time we were put in front of the TV, his outstanding achievements have always been overlooked. Now he has the opportunity to carry on and maybe be even more successful than I have in the sport. He's only two world championships away from equalling my World Championship tally, I am sure he will do that in the next four years. But it's the dignity that he has displayed. He has never been jealous, he's always been courteous, supportive and it's been a pleasure rowing with Matthew Pinsent for the last 10 years."

Redgrave added: "When I was 10 I had a dream to be Olympic champion and that dream came about from a man called Mark Spitz. I watched him win seven gold medals in the swimming pool and I thought `I want a bit of that'. In 1984, that dream came true. And in that year I thought `I fancy one of those'," he quipped, nodding towards his trophy. "Sixteen years I have been coming here, six times I have been shortlisted. I had to hint this time I was going to retire! It's a very fitting end to my international career and it's a very special moment. I'm very honoured to be standing here for this short moment at my final BBC Sports Review of the Year. For all those people that voted for me, I am very honoured to share this moment with you."

The achievements of Redgrave and his Olympic team-mates, along with those of the Paralympic squad, were recognised as the teams were jointly named as team of the year, with Pinsent accepting the accolade. Welshwoman Grey-Thompson claimed the Helen Rollason Award, for the sportsperson who had been deemed to show the most courage, as well as third place in the main event.

Formula One starlet Jenson Button was named Newcomer of the Year after belying his 20 years of age with some outstanding performances on the Grand Prix circuit. While the all-conquering Tiger Woods continued his domination of 2000, when he swept all before him in golf, by being recognised as the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.

But there can surely have been no more popular winner in the main event's history and, akin to the assassination of John F Kennedy, no true sports fan will ever forget where they were on the night of Redgrave's five-star performance in Sydney.

Filed by Sinéad Gleeson