Redgrave considered throwing in towel

Oarsome: The video diaries offer a candid insight

The first instalment of a three-part series following the Olympic preparations of the British coxless four of Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent, Tim Foster and James Cracknell was screened on BBC 1 on Monday at 10.30pm. BBC Sport Online watched the video diary.

Steve Redgrave's battle with diabetes almost led him to end his quest for a record fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

The 38-year-old Marlow oarsman, in despair at his loss of fitness after being diagnosed with the condition, wondered aloud if the effort was worth it.

"I'm just getting so fed up with it. Is it worth it. Is the Olympic Games worth going through this hassle?" he asked.

The intimate programme traced the formation of the quartet and their early preparation under the tutelage of national coach Jurgen Grobler.

Redgrave: Considered quitting

They clinched the 1997 World title but their plans for Olympic glory went awry when Redgrave returned from a holiday in the Bahamas in October 1997 with a tremendous thirst - one of the symptoms of diabetes.

The condition was confirmed as permanent and the veteran's low blood-sugar levels left him drained and unable to maintain his intensity in training.

"In some ways over the years, from the success you have over the years, you get a little bit of leeway but I don't think that leeway should be very much.

"I've got to prove to myself, not really to the others, but to myself that I am still good enough and am going to be good enough to justify my slot within the four.

"If I'm not justifying that to myself and to the others then I'll be looking for something else to do," he candidly told the camera.

But more bad luck hit the team when Foster put his hand through a window pane at a party severing tendons and putting him out of action.

He had plastic surgery but was replaced in the crew for the first World Cup event of the season and had to watch Redgrave and Pinsent lose their first major race.

The team expressed their annoyance at Foster's lack of professionalism and the possible dramatic effect the accident might have on their chances of Olympic glory.

The second part of the triology is on BBC 1 next Monday at 10.30pm.