Lighting the Olympic flame in the stadium

Based on the fact that the Decathlon is the most challenging event in the Olympics it has to be Daley Thompson. Redgrave was outstanding but in one event only. Try doing 10 events and still taking Carl Lewis to the cleaners. Come on guys!

 

Re: Opening ceremony

Mate of mine is taking part. From the vast, rich, musical tapestry this country has produced, 'Tiger Feet' by Mud will feature.....

 

Actually, I think Steve Redgrave probably wouldn't dispute the statement but put his point of view across - and he does have more gold medals than any other British Olympian (that could change this summer). Others who could also have a similar claim include Ben Ainsley (3 Gold, 1 Silver), Chris Hoy (4 Gold, 1 Silver), Bradley Wiggins (3 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze) and Matthew Pinsent (4 Gold). Daley would get my vote too, but I'd have no complaints with any of those. And Dame Tanni Grey Thompson to light the flame at the Paralympics.

BTW Eddie the Eagle was apparently a decent downhill skier who only turned to the Ski-Jump when he failed to get selected for that event.

 

Steve Redgrave for me.

 

11 days, 11 hours and 11 mins to go.

 

I think the reality is they are all great Olympians. I think Redgrave's claims to be the greatest will be eclipsed by Phelps at this Olympics, 6 golds and 2 bronze at 2004; 8 golds at 2008 including 7 world records. Also, if Hoy wins another gold at 2012 he will have a very strong claim to the greatest British olympian. Becky Adlington could make history too. None of which reduces Redgrave's achievement.

 

Ive heard it'll be John Terry.

 

Difficult to say that swimmers are the greatest based on winning a lot of medals IMO due to the fact that they enter so many events they vastly increase their chances of winning medals.

 

fair point, but then the schedule Phelps had to swim was unbelievable. Plus he has done it across two olympics, and made a final as a 15 year old at a third olympics. If he medals at this, his fourth olympics, added to the fact he was smashing world records whilst doing it, then I reckon he has to be the greatest. Redgrave certainly has the longevity but he only had to focus on one event, was part of a team, and at the end of the day you can do his event sitting down (joke).

 

Whilst not a fan of the royals I would have liked to see Princess Anne light it or maybe someone like record 6 time Olympian fencer Bill Hoskyns (81) born in London, but he wont come into the equation because unknown by most and only got 2 silver medals. Could also have made a youngsters day, but lets keep wheeling out the same old faces every 4 years.