SIR STEVE REDGRAVE has joined talkSPORT for the Olympics.
The five-time gold medallist has not missed a Games since 1980 but was axed by the BBC and faced not being present.
Redgrave was on top of the podium at five consecutive Olympics from 1984 to 2000.
He worked for the BBC at the next four and was high performance director of the Chinese rowing team at the coronavirus-hit Tokyo edition.
Redgrave told the Daily Mail in April: “I wasn’t told that I’ve been discontinued, but it’s sort of evolved.
“Matt (Pinsent) is the presenter and Katherine Grainger is the equivalent to what I was doing.
“The three of us worked together at the World Championships the year after Rio, but then they went, ‘Male-female, covered on Olympic medals, why have three?’
“Working for China at the last Games probably didn’t help matters.”
Redgrave is one of 10 Team GB medal winners on talkSPORT this summer – it is the first time they will broadcast from the Games.
Kelly Holmes won gold in the 800 and 1500 metres in Athens in 2004.
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She will join Natalie Sawyer at the opening ceremony on July 26.
Silver-medallist swimmer Jazz Carlin and former hockey gold medallist Alex Danson will be featuring on podcasts alongside Sawyer.
And 1984 Olympic javelin champion Tessa Sanderson is joining sprinter Adam Gemili for athletics coverage.
Spencer Oliver (boxing), Molly Renshaw (swimming), Polly Swann and Jack Beaumont (both rowing) and Rocky Clarke (rugby sevens) are also on hand to provide expert analysis.
Three-time Paralympic medallist Stef Reid will be live from the Stade De France when the athletics starts with their morning sessions.
Taking the reins as talkSPORT’s lead commentators are Nigel Adderley (athletics), John Anderson (swimming), Dave Farrar (boxing), Alfie Reynolds (rugby sevens), James Fielden & Olly Clink (football), Ian Danter (rowing), Graham Willgoss (cycling), Charlotte Richardson & Georgie Heath (hockey) and Joe Shennan (various).
talkSPORT’s reporters across the games this summer include Vaishali Bhardwaj (swimming), Gabbie Partington and Sean O’Brien (golf), Rupert Bell and Lizzie Kelly (equestrian), Alfie Reynolds (tennis) and Ian Abrahams (football)
John Cushing (rowing, canoeing & gymnastics), Michael Weadock (ceremonies, triathlon & athletics), Jo Ankier (boxing & athletics) and Katie Shanahan (hockey, judo & cycling) will be reporting from the thick of the action in and around Paris on their respective events.
