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Olympics Contents:  Beijing 2008

12:23 GMT, Tuesday, 2 December 2008

Romero tempted to try third sport

Rebecca Romero

Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Romero has not ruled out bidding for a medal in a third sport at the London Games.

Romero became the first British woman to win Olympic medals in two different sports when she added cycling gold in Beijing to her rowing silver from 2004.

And she said the chance to compete in a third sport was a huge incentive.

"How many people in the world can say that if they take one more step they can be the first person ever to do something?" she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

While stressing that she had not "explored anything", Romero admitted she dreamed of competing in London's main Olympic stadium in athletics.

"To compete in the Olympic Games within the main stadium would just be the ultimate," she said.

"The biggest thing I'm really considering is my obligation to 2012 and the medals table"
Rebecca Romero

"If I had the skill and ability to do something there then that would be fantastic."

But she also admitted that she is "not a runner", adding: "My success hasn't just been about myself and my ability to switch.

"It's the fact that I've had an excellent coach who has been 50% of the project. It wouldn't necessarily have worked had it not been for my coach, the team support and the expertise behind me.

"But what draws me towards trying a third sport is that I've got hindsight, I've got the experience to draw on. I've made the mistakes.

"How interesting would it be to see if it's possible? But then I think that's far too greedy and far too insane!"

Romero's astonishing feat in winning medals in two different sports at consecutive Olympic Games earned her a place among the top 10 contenders for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

The Surrey-born athlete won silver with the quadruple scull at the 2004 Games before a back injury forced her to quit the sport.

She made her track cycling debut in 2006, taking a silver medal in the world championships only a year later.

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She dominated the 3000m individual pursuit final in Beijing, beating fellow Briton Wendy Houvenaghel to gold.

Romero has already set her sights on London 2012, and she stressed that winning a medal was her principal aim.

"The biggest thing I'm really considering is my obligation to 2012 and the medals table," she said.

"A third sport would be a massive personal challenge, but it would be for myself totally."




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Related to this story:

Sports Personality names revealed (01 Dec 08 |  Sports Personality )
Sports Personality 10: Rebecca Romero (01 Dec 08 |  Sports Personality )
Team GB's roll of honour (23 Aug 08 |  Beijing 2008 )
Britain's golden wonders (17 Aug 08 |  Beijing 2008 )
Romero beats GB team-mate to gold (17 Aug 08 |  Cycling )
Britain win sculls silver (22 Aug 04 |  Rowing )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Rebecca Romero
BOA profile of Rebecca Romero
UCI - Olympic cycling
Guide to UK cycling
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Olympics Contents:  Beijing 2008

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