Our first meeting was lat summer when I had the dubious pleasure of rowing with you in the David Lloyd Flag Relay from Milbank to County Hall. I say dubious as I was only asked by the others about 10 minutes before we were due to meet as I was only going to video it for the club.

That said, I have to say congratulations on your so many successes over the years, not least for just being a fantastic sportsman and farther figure to all would be top-class athletes around the world.

How much does real rowing compare to the Concept machines ?

The movements are the same, but the balance aspect is not there.  Good tool to teach people to row and to train on.

People think they are ideal apparatus for us, but most Canoe Polo Players don’t have the legs for it. Did you spend much time on these types of machines in favour of getting out in the cold British Winters ?

Most of the time was on the water.  We would do three training sessions on the concept II a week.

Do you still compete to any degree ?

No.

How involved are you with the sport now, do you do any coaching ?

I am president of the Amateur Rowing Association and on the management committee of Henley Royal Regatta and Marlow Regatta as well as working for the BBC commentary team.

Ordinarily what’s a good age for a Rower at the peak of their career ?

Late 20’s

How long were the competition seasons ? Was their actually a real closed season ?

May to September.  No we do long distance racing in the winter.

How much time a week did you spend on average training ?

26 - 30 hours a week, between 18 – 24 sessions a week, 49 weeks of the year.

With our sport played in kayaks, most members of the public don’t see any difference between canoeing and rowing as they always talk about rowing and ores, but I don’t suppose anyone mixed them up when talking to you ?

Yes they do.  They call our boats canoes.

Very reassuring !
Although we’ve had World Championships played ever 2 years since the 1^st in Sheffield, back in 1994, ours is not an Olympic sport, from your experience, what’s the difference between the two events and what meant more to you at the time ?

The Olympics is the bigger event.  Olympic rowing started before World Championship rowing even though you are competing against the same people.  It was explained to me on my first Olympic win that you are a World Champion for one year but an Olympic Champion for life.

With your winter sports interests, I understand you had a spell in the British Bobsleigh Team. How far did you get in that pursuit ?

One of my Canoe Polo team-mates Chris Arrowsmith also competed in Barcelona in the Slalom C2. He would be delighted if you just happened to mention you’ve even heard of him – even if you haven’t !

[Just for the record - Steve made no comment here - so I guess Chris is not quite as famous as he might like to think he is ! ]

Your Charitable Trust has a target of raising £5M in 5 years. How are you doing ?

We have raised £1.1 million in 2 and a half years.

Are you actually working a 9-5 job now or is the Charity work taking all your time up ?

I am involved in 6 or 7 different projects, none of them 9 – 5 and yes the charity work takes up much of my time which I don’t mind.

Is it an important step for aspiring sportsmen/women to use an agent ? If so, would you find that the PR part of it gets in the way of the training / competition preparations ?

The early part of your career an agent is not essential but seeking good advice would be.  And yes the PR part can get in the way sometimes.

How much of your training did you ever do abroad in warmer climates and if any, where did you go ?

Quite often, Australia, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Austria.

Our sport has been around long enough that people competing in the 70’s and 80’s have long retired (my day will come). I guess it must feel like there is a huge vacuum to fill somehow, but I assume the family are now the real winners having you around more regularly ?

Being involved in a sport with no money I am still travelling around doing all sorts of different functions and probably spend more nights away from home than when I was competing.

I personally made a donation on Steve's web site to go towards the good causes he supports.

©1st January 2004