Olympic greats head to Dorney for EDF Challenge

[newsimage=0]Sir Steve Redgrave and Katherine Grainger are heading to Eton Dorney on Tuesday 1st May, ready to show their support as 40 young rowers take on the EDF Community Rowing Challenge.

Youngsters from five East London schools have spent four months training with London Youth Rowing for Tuesday’s event, which will see the crews battle it out on the water at the rowing venue for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Sir Steve will talk to the pupils from ahead of the race which will – alongside each school’s conduct and commitment to training, punctuality training attendance overall teamwork – will help decide the overall winner of the challenge.

He will then present prizes and certificates to each of the 40 youngsters taking part, with Katherine Grainger lending a hand before flying out to rejoin the GB Rowing Team ahead of the World Cup Regatta in Belgrade.

Sir Steve said: “I’m delighted to be supporting the EDF Community Rowing Challenge. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the youngsters and I’m sure they’ll rise to the challenge and give their all in the final. I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

Paralympic gold medallist Tom Aggar and French Olympic gold medallist Jean-Christophe Rolland have also helped train the 40 young rowers over the past four months, and Rolland – who is also EDF’s Project Lead – believes that the challenge will have a lasting impact on the participants.

He said: “As an official partner of London 2012, EDF is focused on helping to deliver a positive lasting legacy for the Games. We’re thrilled that Sir Steve and Katherine can join us at the final. We want to use the Olympic values to inspire these young people not just in sport but to provide them with life skills to help achieve their potential as they progress to further education or into work.”

The EDF Community Rowing Challenge has been supported by British Rowing.