Redgrave hid diabetes from team-mates

Olympic hero Steve Redgrave today revealed how he hid his personal agony from his three crew mates in the build up to his record breaking fifth gold medal triumph in Sydney.

Although a television documentary showed the 38-year-old rower's battle with diabetes and colitis even James Cracknell, Matthew Pinsent and Tim Foster didn't know the extent of his medical problems.

Speaking as he prepared for what could be his last race at the Supersprint Rowing Grand Prix at Dorney Lake, near Windsor tomorrow, he said: "Nobody really knows how much it's been a hard battle right the way through.

"People know the areas involved but very few people, even within the crew, know the whole story."