Legend Redgrave was always a winner

Redgrave shows off his fifth gold medal

BBC Sport Online's Phil Gordos talks to Francis Smith, the schoolteacher who discovered rowing legend Steve Redgrave.

The man responsible for putting Steve Redgrave on the road to Olympic greatness says it was the rower's mental powers that marked him down as a future champion.

"I knew he had qualities. He had the physique and was larger than the other children, but it was the fact that he did not want to be beaten," said Francis Smith.

"He was able to make other people think the same way. Mentally he was very strong."

Very satisfying

Smith was head of English at Marlow Secondary Modern when he spotted an overgrown 13-year-old roaming around school.

Little did he realise he was unearthing an Olympic hero and one of the greatest sportsmen Great Britain has ever produced.

When Steve first started off his arms and legs were all over the shop

Francis Smith

"I knew he would be quite good at what he had taken up, but at 13 it is very difficult to know," said Smith, who retired from teaching five years ago.

"He was still developing. When Steve first started off his arms and legs were all over the shop.

"He's done very well. I'm very pleased for him. It must be very satisfying."

The year 2000 has been a memorable one for Redgrave, who left school at the age of 16 to pursue his dream of rowing glory.

No personality

He claimed a fifth successive Olympic gold medal at the Sydney Games and capped it off by winning the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday.

For Smith, the award was long overdue.

"I'm not going to mention any names, but people who have won the award over the years have had no personality," he said.

Redgrave and Smith

"Steve has put rowing on the map. It was once regarded as upper-class sport but not any more. Steve has seen to that."

An emotional Redgrave was quick to pay tribute to Smith in Sunday's acceptance speech, singling him out as the most important coach in his long and illustrious career.

"If it wasn't for his foresight I would never have achieved anything in rowing because I wouldn't have found the sport," said Redgrave. "So I owe a lot to him."

Recognised talent

Smith is naturally a proud of his former pupil but refuses to accept all of the credit.

"Steve's parents recognised he had talent and backed him all the way," said Smith.

"It was their support which kept him going."

Now Redgrave's career is over and Smith is unsure what his protege will do to occupy his time.

"He's got the super sprints and will certainly be in demand for coaching, but he may not do anything," he said.

If that's the case, Redgrave's wife, Anne, surely won't mind at all.