MARLOW Rowing Club chairman Peter Hunt is hoping the country will finally take Olympic rower Steve Redgrave to its heart after he earned himself a place among the greatest-ever Olympians.

MARLOW Rowing Club chairman Peter Hunt is hoping the country will finally take Olympic rower Steve Redgrave to its heart after he earned himself a place among the greatest-ever Olympians.

Hunt says Redgrave's achievements have long been overlooked at the expense of sports such as football and he believes the rower has now more than earned his spurs to become a national sporting hero.

The 38-year-old is now the only Olympian to claim golds in five consecutive Games in an endurance sport and has already been invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace in November in honour of that achievement.

Marlow Town Council is planning a big welcome home for Redgrave and the rowing club are hoping they can play their part.

Hunt said: 'The club would welcome the chance to honour him. He's our greatest Olympian. I hope the country feels the same way.

'When you look at some of the people who win recognition and things like Sports Personality of the Year, there's some real peculiar choices. A lot of them aren't based on what they do in their sport but simply on how many people vote for them.

'I blame the media for a lot of it. Youngsters are being brainwashed into thinking that kicking a ball about is the sport they can do but there is a lot more out there.

'If you live in a river-side town, youngsters who don't row are really missing a great opportunity.'

Redgrave revealed after last Saturday's race how he has enjoyed massive support from all nationalities Down Under as he bid to book his place in history.

He said: 'I had a New Zealander coming up to me and saying 'I really want you to win but the problem is you're racing against my son'. When you get other nationalities coming up to you and saying that it's unbelievable.

'You have to forget about all that, yeah there are a lot of people wanting you to win but the problem is you still have to go out there and focus on the job.'

But the man himself went to huge lengths to play down his achievement before admitting: 'It's been four years of hard work, with a lot of traumas for all of us in different ways.

'I had a good feeling all week, I knew it was going to go well.'

Francis Smith, the Marlow teacher who first introduced Redgrave to rowing, even admitted an honour would be fitting, saying: 'Sir Steven would be quite nice.'

Commenting on Saturday's win, Hunt added: 'I would have been very surprised if he hadn't done it. Steve has a record of getting out in front and controlling the race.'