AT THE end of a year in which their lives seemed sure to be transformed by
success in Beijing, Britain’s gold medallists reflect on their new-found
celebrity status, the struggle to convert that into income and what the
future holds . . .
How have you coped with the demands of being a star?
Ben Ainslie (sailing): I won gold at Sydney and Athens and the hype has
been much bigger this time around.
Chris Hoy (cycling): I had planned to take a couple of months off after
Beijing. Two weeks in, I realised I couldn’t agree to every request. It’s
been non-stop. I feel like I haven’t slept in the same room for the past
three months. I’m exhausted. I know that sounds pathetic.
Zac Purchase (rowing): I hired a PA and I’ve given presentations to
schools and companies. I was back in training last month without having had
a holiday. However, I would encourage any medallist at London 2012 to say
yes to as much as you can. You never know when the opportunity will come
round again.
Andy Hodge (rowing): It’s been chaotic. If I’m not in training or
attending dinners, I’m often fulfilling duties as captain of my boat club.
If I could give one bit of advice to a gold medallist after 2012 it would
be: “Don’t feel obliged to say yes to everything. Do the stuff you enjoy.”
Becky Adlington (swimming): I was advised by a GB Swimming press
officer to get an agent and I’m glad I did. The first couple of weeks after
Beijing, Mum and Dad were trying to do all the work and it was too much. I
don’t get as many people coming up to me in the street now, except when I’m
leaving after training. They make the connection.
Tim Brabants (canoeing): I quit my job as a doctor two years before
Beijing. The plan was to look for a job when I got back from the Olympics.
But I haven’t had time, with all my speaking commitments. Not that I’m
famous. The day after the BBC Sports Personality awards, Becky Adlington and
I were coming out of our hotel and she was mobbed. I don’t think anyone
cared who I was!
Paul Manning (cycling): I made it into the Manchester Evening News
Spotted In Manchester column. I’d been to the city dozens of times before to
compete and nobody noticed me then! When I tell people that I won gold,
they’ll say, “Oh yes, I saw that on telly,” but I can see they can’t quite
remember my face.
Bradley Wiggins (cycling): I was disappointed after winning gold in
Athens that I didn’t have a higher profile. Winning two golds this summer
and the whole cycling team doing well has meant my Olympic fame has lasted
longer. But, as I learnt in 2004, you have to move on.
Have your earnings been boosted by Olympic glory?
Paul Goodison (sailing): No. The economic climate is not helping.
Peter Reed (rowing): Although the rowers are well supported by our main
sponsor, Camelot, I am surprised that more hasn’t come my way. I got a free
TV from Panasonic and a set of golf clubs from Taylor Made — that’s about
it. But there are people out there right now who are desperately worried
about their jobs. What’s the worst that could happen to me — that I’ll have
to stop shopping at Waitrose and downsize to Aldi or the Co-op?
Zac Purchase: I got a pair of gold, limited-edition wellies from a firm
called Hunters because I won gold with Mark Hunter. Does that count?
Tom James (rowing): I did get an agent but that hasn’t made much
difference. Barely any of the British medallists at Beijing whom I’ve spoken
to have found much interest from new sponsors.
Sarah Ayton (sailing): We’ve all been brought down to earth a bit. It’s
a little frustrating that after driving yourself so hard for four years, you
now have to do it all over again just to make a living.
Chris Hoy: I’ve read some articles about how much I was going to earn
and they were wildly exaggerated. Of course I’m in a better position now.
Before, if I was looking for potential sponsors, I would have to contact
them, send them my CV. Now they’re coming to me.
Andy Hodge: Offers have been thin on the ground. The problem is,
compared with previous Olympic Games, there are a lot more people with gold
medals and not so much work to go round.
Iain Percy (sailing): I’ve been lucky enough to have Skandia as a
sponsor for the past 10 years and they’ve always been very good. There seems
to be a buzz around sailing now.
Bradley Wiggins: I learnt from Athens that you can’t live off Olympic
success for the rest of your life.
What’s been your best experience as a gold medallist?
Paul Goodison: Getting to do a lap of honour at Bramall Lane in front
of 30,000 fans was pretty amazing.
Andy Hodge: Walking out in front of a packed-out Wembley at the
Challenge Cup final.
Peter Reed: The GQ Men of the Year awards, where celebrities wanted to
meet us. I had a good chat with Tess Daly and met Elton John, Lily Allen,
Thandie Newton and some Scottish guy, who rides bikes.
Becky Adlington: Just being in the same room as Take That, never mind
talking to them, was pretty overwhelming. I’ve also met Jimmy Carr and
Michael McIntyre, two of my favourite comedians.
Chris Hoy: I was at the National Film Awards to present an award, and
Samuel L Jackson was there backstage. I had my medals and he came over to
say hello and then asked if I wouldn’t mind having my picture taken with
him. Then there was being introduced at Murrayfield just before the All
Blacks performed the haka against Scotland in November. Winning the BBC
Sports Personality award was obviously a special way to end the year.
Victoria Pendleton (cycling): Getting to wear a dress designed by
Stella McCartney was pretty cool, as was going to the GQ Men of the Year
awards where I met Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.
Rebecca Romero (cycling): Getting tickets to Strictly Come Dancing and
being invited to the Pride Of Britain awards.
James DeGale (boxing): I’ve done the usual stuff like A Question Of
Sport, which was fun. But the best bit has been getting to know some of the
boxing greats — Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Sugar Ray Leonard.
Sarah Ayton: Hanging out with Naomi Campbell at London Fashion Week.
Then there was the time we went to see Elton John in concert. My mum wrote
to his fan club and they arranged for us to go backstage and meet him.
Bradley Wiggins: I don’t know about the best but the weirdest was being
asked to design a shoe.
Retirement or London 2012?
Mark Hunter (rowing): No matter how I did, I had made up my mind I was
going to take time out after Beijing. In July I landed a position at UCLA
(University of California, Los Angeles) as a rowing coach. I start in the
new year and plan to take in Vegas before then. But coming back for London
2012 is a huge attraction. I’m an East End boy, so it would be in my own
back yard.
Tim Brabants: Winning gold was not only great for my CV but good for
publicising my credentials. I’ve had lots of emails and calls for
consultants, who found out that I was looking to get back into medicine,
offering me advice and introductions.
Sarah Ayton: The Yngling class has been dropped from future Olympics,
so that’s the end of the “Three Blondes in a Boat”. I’ll be using the new
year to consider where I go from here. But I’ve definitely got the Olympic
rings in my sights.
Peter Reed: Beijing is old news now, the 30th Olympiad has just
started. I’m probably luckier than many Olympians because I’m a commissioned
officer in the Royal Navy and they have always been good about giving me as
much time as I need to pursue my rowing career.
Paul Manning: I was always going to retire after Beijing. Through
cycling I get to know the people who resurfaced the track at the Manchester
Velodrome, where I set a world record in March. They’re building a velodrome
in London and I start a management job in the new year.
Becky Adlington: Defending my golds in London 2012 is on the agenda but
I’ve got to concentrate on qualifying for the British team for the world
championships. Only two in my event can make the team and the trials are in
Sheffield in March. If I make it through, then it’s on to Rome in July.
Tom James: I decided before Beijing that I was going to take a
sabbatical until after the next world championships. I’ve spent all of my
adult life training and competing. You need to take time out to renew your
hunger and avoid becoming stagnant. It’s important that I have a career
lined up after London 2012, so I was going to spend my time getting some
work experience. I had a position lined up in the City that was going to
take me through from November to March. Unfortunately, that’s fallen through
because of the credit crunch.
James DeGale: I left it a while before making a decision about turning
pro because I didn’t want to rush into anything and because I wanted to
enjoy the feeling of being Olympic champion. I talked it over with my
parents first, who were very supportive, then with Amir Khan, who was in a
similar situation four years ago. I’m obviously not going to be at London
2012 but I’d give anything to have a world title fight in the city just
before then.
To win one of the 32-inch televisions with built-in HD Freesat that Team GB
sponsor Panasonic is giving to each 2008 gold medal-winning Olympian and
Paralympian, visit timesonline.co.uk/goldmedal
THE GOLDEN BRITS
SARAH AYTON, SARAH WEBB, PIPPA WILSON
The ‘Three Blondes in a Boat’ have disbanded
BECKY ADLINGTON
The 400m and 800m freestyle champion is back in training
BEN AINSLIE
Preparing for America’s Cup
TIM BRABANTS
The doctor-turned-canoeist is returning to medicine
ED CLANCY, PAUL MANNING, GERAINT THOMAS, BRADLEY WIGGINS
Manning has retired but the rest of the cycling pursuit team will be racing in
2009
NICOLE COOKE
Olympic then world road race title. She lives in Switzerland
JAMES DEGALE
Turned pro with Frank Warren
PAUL GOODISON
Sailing’s Laser champion is all set for London 2012
ANDY HODGE, TOM JAMES, PETER REED, STEVE WILLIAMS
Williams may retire but the rest of the rowing four hope to be at London 2012
CHRIS HOY, JASON KENNY, ED CLANCY
Team sprint champions. All are back in training
CHRISTINE OHURUOGU
The 400m Olympic champion is eyeing second world title
VICTORIA PENDLETON
The cyclist is competing again
IAIN PERCY, ANDREW SIMPSON
Sailing champions are joining Ainslie in America’s Cup bid
ZAC PURCHASE, MARK HUNTER
Purchase is still rowing, Hunter is on sabbatical in the US
REBECCA ROMERO
The rower-turned-cyclist is back in training
