four to announce he will continue until London 2012 and, as he tells MIKE ROWBOTTOM, he knows that all

With two gold medals to his credit, and at the age of 32, he faces an even harder decision.  

"It's all or nothing, and all you want to do is back up your team-mates."  

Record-breaking lungs   Among those present on this drizzly London morning, in his latest incarnation

stood as a record across all sports until a routine test at the English Institute of Sport showed that

Not surprisingly, Reed retains his record in the current British rowing set-up.  

 NORWAY'S Andreas Thorkildsen (pictured) has set his sights on matchng Jan Zelezny and winning three consecutive Olympic javelin titles after today being named the male Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year 2008.

reputation for finding his form on the big occasion and in Beijing he sent the spear out to a new Olympic record

"I have only had this feeling two to three times before.  

"I was just fortunate that this was the right time and place to put it all together."  

Thorkildsen believes that, despite his two Olympic gold medals and a victory at the 2006 European Athletics

Britain has won this five times since it was introduced in 1993, including twice by triple Jonathan Edwards

  JULY 9 - BRITISH SWIMMING has appointed former team director of USA Swimming Dennis Pursley (pictured) as national head coach to help it prepare for the 2012 Olympics, it was announced today.

"He's personally coached some outstanding swimmers and the record books reflect this.  

And Scott's views are echoed by British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes who believes exciting times

Pursley is a former American record holder for the 220 yard breaststroke.  

Pursley spent 14 years as national team director of USA Swimming where he was responsible for all aspects

The finest moment was at the 2000 Olympics where the USA won 33 medals, 14 of which were gold.  

 JULY 21 - A NEW body to address the current "crisis" in women’s sport in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics is to headed by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson (pictured), Britain's greatest-ever Paralympian, the Government said today.

“The Commission is exactly what winning 2012 was all about – providing the kind of inspiration

leading 35 British NGBs of sport have a female chief executive, while women make up just 25 per cent of all

NGBs that represent women’s sport have no female board members; men’s sport is given 50 times

This is about challenging perceptions and getting more women of all ages to give sport a try.  

”  Dame Tanni, winner of a record 16 Parlaympic medals, including 11 golds, in an international

  JUNE 26 - BRITAIN announced 11 rowing crews for Beijing today, with a 12th crew to be announced later.

  The realistic chance of medals is four, while the optimists' medal count would be seven.    

are unbeaten this season, the heavyweight double Matt Wells and Stephen Rowbotham who have won two medals

"Being my first Olympics, I have to make sure that I don't get too distracted by all the new sights and

Britain has an outstanding Olympic record in rowing in modern times, winning golds every time since 1984

Olympics without either Sir Steven Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent, who, between them, won nine gold medals

  JUNE 26 - BRITAIN announced 11 rowing crews for Beijing today, with a 12th crew to be announced later.

  The realistic chance of medals is four, while the optimists' medal count would be seven.    

are unbeaten this season, the heavyweight double Matt Wells and Stephen Rowbotham who have won two medals

"Being my first Olympics, I have to make sure that I don't get too distracted by all the new sights and

Britain has an outstanding Olympic record in rowing in modern times, winning golds every time since 1984

Olympics without either Sir Steven Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent, who, between them, won nine gold medals

 MAY 13 - RICHARD CABORN, the former Sports Minister, tonight hosted a reception for the UK School Games at the House of Commons.

village at last year’s UK School Games in Coventry where she was a huge hit with youngsters of all

All 12 Champion Ambassadors represent the four home countries and a range of sports including Paralympic

Later this year, record numbers of young athletes will compete at the 2008 UK School Games, when it is

-52kg category)   ·  Swimming: Louisa Farrer-Fisher, (England South-West)  2006 UK School Games 4 times

gold medallist 2007 UK School Games 4 times gold medals and one silver medal   ·  Swimming: Emma Wilkins

today ruled out any chance of Britain boycotting the Beijing Games in protest over China's human rights record

  Writing in a column published in The Times today, Moynihan said: "To use the Olympics as a one-off

in the 1500 metres in Moscow while Moynihan was the cox for the men's eight who claimed the silver medals

Moynihan wrote in The Times: "I would argue that the high media profile of the Olympics will ensure that

the Chinese have invested so much in the hosting of the Olympic Games that we have any leverage at all

avoid drug tests at their events.Back then, the meet promoters marketed their events with hype about record

attempts, fast times--Citus, Altus, Fortus.With coverage of their events increasingly drowned out by

in Valencia, is not the Olympic 100m.Could things change if he wins the World Indoor crown, breaks a record

, and passes all his doping tests?

profited from the events.Indeed, for the tiny nation of East Germany hauling in truckloads of Olympic medals

  DECEMBER 16 - BRITAIN'S head swimming coach Kevin Renshaw said he was satisfied with his squad's performance in the European Short Course Championships, which ended in Debrecen tonight, despite failing to win a medal.

"In terms of expectations, many thought we would struggle to get into any finals or challenge for medals

"At the first team meeting I challenged them all to compete hard and be in the race.   

"It was particularly pleasing to see Katy Sexton swim so well and break the British record in the 50

"To single out any one performance is very difficult, but Terri Dunning's British Record in the 200m

"Mention should also go to Daniel Fogg and Mark McKenna who improved on their 1500m personal best times

its most successful Visa Paralympic World Cup yet in the pool with an impressive haul of seven gold medals

  Britain kicked off a terrific session at the Manchester Aquatics Centre with two clean sweeps of medals

Kindred, Matthew Whorwood and Gareth Duke won all three medals in the men's SM6 200 metres Individual

"All my races in Durban (at the World Championships) were PBs but that was one of my fastest times."

Cashmore said of her British record: "I wasn't expecting that at all.  

holder just outpaced the former world record holder in the final 30m.  

  JONATHAN EDWARDS (pictured), a member of the Board of London 2012, was today elected to the ruling council of the European Athletics Association (EAA).

  The 2000 Olympic triple jump champion and world record holder, UK Athletics’ nomination for the

crucial role, received the second-highest number of votes of all candidates at the EAA annual meeting

"There are challenging times ahead for the sport and I look forward to working with the Council to strengthen

"So it is important to maintain the number of medals won by those countries at the highest level.  

"His contribution can be a good one because of who he is, what he has already done and what we all know

  JONATHAN EDWARDS (pictured), a member of the Board of London 2012, was today elected to the ruling council of the European Athletics Association (EAA).

  The 2000 Olympic triple jump champion and world record holder, UK Athletics’ nomination for the

crucial role, received the second-highest number of votes of all candidates at the EAA annual meeting

"There are challenging times ahead for the sport and I look forward to working with the Council to strengthen

"So it is important to maintain the number of medals won by those countries at the highest level.  

"His contribution can be a good one because of who he is, what he has already done and what we all know

  LIAM TANCOCK broke the Commonwealth record as he claimed a bronze medal for Britain in the 100 metres

"The Americans had an amazing night with world records falling all over the place and to be part of the

British Swimming came close to making it two medals in Melbourne when Edinburgh's Kirsty Balfour and

"It was deafening out there with the Aussie crowd all cheering for Leisel," said Haywood.    

considering, to just make the final but to climb further up the rankings and to swim one of my fastest ever times

200m freestyle where the depth of the field demanded the fastest seven progressing to tomorrow's final all