THE oarsman Steve Redgrave is to attempt to win an unprecedented fifth consecutive Olympic medal at Sydney in 2000. When the then 34 year old stepped from his boat in sweltering Georgia in July with Matthew Pinsent his sculling partner, an all in triumphant Redgrave said: "If ever you see me near a boat again, you have my permission to shoot me.

Most of us suspected we might need the gun, and so it has turned out. Four months later, on a bright, frosty white morning yesterday alongside a sparkling Thames at Henley, it needed a packed press conference at the stately Leander Club to announce the worst kept secret in British sport.

Redgrave is pining for the water again. He cannot stay away. He begins serious training for 2000 at dawn this Sunday morning. His confrere, Pinsent, was alongside yesterday. They will begin their Australia campaign training as a coxless pair, but then look to recruit two more and make up a four boat for the assault on Sydney and, in particular, an attack on the Australian four which, of course, has won two successive Olympic golds.

It is a piquant challenge to relish in the first place one for two of the British squad ambitious to join the two champions on their historic quest. Tim Foster will surely be inspired by yesterday's announcement; so too, perhaps, those gilded Olympians from 1992, the Searle brothers.

No man in Olympic history has won gold at five successive Games. What immortality to aim for. Redgrave serenely gave best yesterday to all us doubting Toms from that Georgia riverbank.

"You were all dead right, weren't you? I had four months off the water, the longest period in 20 years, and have been pretty busy and fulfilled in that time. But I seriously began to miss the routine and the discipline.

"That surprised me. So we had a family conference, the four of us sitting on the living room floor, and decided on the future. Two were easy to bribe with lollipops, so it was a 3-1 vote to continue - although Ann was keen I packed up ...

Wife Ann (the squad's doctor) interrupts: "Of course I support his decision to continue. I did say I wanted him to stop, to quit at the very top ..." Said Steve: "I still plan to quit at the very top, only it, happens to be four years hence.

Redgrave's obsession down the years has not been overdecorated with greenbacks or freebies. Between his first two gold medals, he mowed lawns and cleaned out swimming pools for Thames Valley plutocrats. His fame is at last upping the ante. This time, he has even turned down a post with the Australian Sports Academy, and now Lombard Finance will support the attack on Sydney to the comfortable tune of £1 million.

With an intriguing duo now jostling to join them, it was good to see the odd couple back together - the dyslexic son of a carpenter and, in the ancient rowing snobbism, "the tradesman", and the articulate Eton and Oxford son of a wealthy churchman.

Pinsent's craggy grin at being officially reunited with the monarch enveloped the room yesterday. Younger by eight years, he will be going for his third successive gold. Not bad. Obviously he has been less feted than the great man who skewered his everlasting fame to the honours board in Atlanta with four on the trot.

Pinsent was thoroughly delighted: "His decision is nothing to do with me. The day after the Olympic race, Steve took the family on holiday to Disneyland. We parted with nothing much to say, just a stare and a firm, silent handshake. Then went our separate ways. In October I was on the river with Jurgen (Grobler, theirs coach), and he said, `Steve's coming back to the water'. My jaw hit the table, I couldn't believe it. It is thrilling, particularly the plan to put a four together.

They shook hands again for the snappers. "It would have been too much to carry on as a pair," Said Redgrave. "With a four we can change the emphasis, a new event will give us more variety, enthusiasm and drive." Especially with that crack Australian quartet to beat.

Variety? Well, as we thought, Redgrave has signed on again for four years of relentless slog. Just shows you, muttered a journo cynic, the fellow simply doesn't know what to do with the rest of his life.

But it's only four years. Not long to endure to become the most celebrated Olympian in the whole damn history of sport. What a target to set oneself.