Toby Garbett's Olympics
Ahead of London 2012 we asked a range of personalities to let us know what the Olympics means to them. Rower Toby - who competed for Great Britain at the Athens Games and is now a Sky Sports Living for Sport Athlete Mentor - explains why he's pulling for the return of tug-of-war...
Last Updated: 14/06/12 12:50pm
What are your favourite Olympics memories?
My favourite Olympics was Athens. Turning up at the beautiful rowing lake at Schinias just as the sun was rising with the Olympic rings glistening in the sun added to my excitement and understanding of what they stood for. At that point I realised my dream of being an Olympian.
Who would you class as the greatest Olympian of all time?
That would have to be Larissa Latynina who holds the record of 18 Olympic medals and was the driving force behind the Soviet Union's gymnastic team in the 1960's.
How much of London 2012 will you be watching?
I am really looking forward to watching my first Olympic games rather than participating. When you are participating in them you are in a bubble and only concentrate on your own sport and don't get to see anything else. Also the added feel good factor it will have on the British public. I have managed to get tickets for diving, weight lifting and rowing.
Which events are you most looking forward to?
Top of the list the triathlon as I am now competing myself for GB in my age group so it will be good to see it up close in Hyde Park and get some top tips from our British athletes.
How do you think Team GB will fare?
I think GB will do fantastically well. Originally when I started out, rowing was the only gold medal that Team GB would win and since the lottery funding has come in I feel we should win medals in lots of other sports and I can't see why we could not get ourselves in the top three for Olympic medals won.
What sport would you like to see added to the Olympics?
GB currently hold the last Olympic Gold medal for tug of war which was abandoned in 1920. This would get my vote for an Olympic sport to be re-instated.
If you were to enter the Olympics in a sport other than your own, which event would you choose and why?
My choice of a sport would be diving as I like the idea of being able to do pikes and somersaults from a great height but unfortunately by body size would not allow it in the real world!!
Find out more about Toby at www.tobygarbett.com or follow him on Twitter. Stay up-to-date with the latest news on Sky Sports Living for Sport on Twitter or by visiting the website.
