Greg Searle: We can all grasp the chance to share joy of Olympic sport

FIRSTLY, I would like to congratulate Yorkshire on the outstanding success your athletes have enjoyed at London 2012, including three of my rowing team-mates, Andy Triggs Hodge, Tom Ransley and Kat Copeland. I know they are both proud to be among the many medallists from the county.

The chance to compete in front of a home crowd was probably the biggest factor in my decision to come back to rowing after almost a decade out of the sport and I am delighted I took the step. The Games exceeded all my expectations and I think it is fair to say the vast majority of British people feel the same way.

As the summer draws to a close and the academic year starts, the burning question now is this: what will be the legacy of these extraordinary events?

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When I announced my comeback, I was approached by a publisher who wanted me to tell my story in a book. The working title was Be A Legend. It was based on a conversation I had with 2012 gold medalist Sophie Hosking three years ago when I was commentating on the World Championships.

It was Sophie, for the record, who climbed out of the stroke seat so she could turn round and embrace her crew-mate Kat Copeland, from Stokesley after an incredible victory on the morning of “Super Saturday” which appeared to surprise them more than any of the spectators who lined the banks of Eton Dorney to cheer them home.

“You’re a legend,” she told me at the end of champs party and I remember asking myself what I actually needed to do to be a true legend.

Was it enough to go and try to win gold again 20 years after doing so with my brother, Jonny, in Barcelona?

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As I sit here now with my bronze medal from the London Games from being part of the men’s eight that included Tom Ransley of York, I feel that the real answer to that question lies in whether my efforts are part of the much bigger picture – the legacy of the 2012 London Olympics and also the Paralympics that are due to come to a spectacular and triumphant end tomorrow night.

I am pleased to say I changed 
 the title of my book to If Not Now, When?, which seemed far more meaningful both in regards to my own story and also where we stand now as a nation.

It was the phrase our cox Garry Herbert, now the BBC commentator, called out to me and Jonny during a crucial part of our Olympic final on Lake Banyoles in 1992 and spurred us on to win that day.

It was the question I asked myself as I contemplated the days, months and years of hard work I would face if I were to re-enter the world of elite sport. And it is the question we all need to ask ourselves now.

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If we cannot inspire the next generation off the back of the phenomenal success of both the Olympics and Paralympics, it will be an opportunity missed.

And there is the key word – opportunity. The sporting spectacles of the summer have surely provided inspiration and motivation, but what is crucial now is that the opportunities are there for everyone – and not just children – to get out and have a go themselves.

I was very fortunate that the school I went to had a strong history of rowing along with a great coaching set-up. I then joined a fantastic club and found my way into the national and international system that way.

School obviously plays a big role in providing children with the chance to try a range of sports, but I think funding and the curriculum are often limiting factors so it is not enough to rely on this solely.

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There are hundreds of thousands of clubs around the country offering a wide range of activities and I have heard lots of encouraging stories about a big increase in new enquiries and membership applications.

The involvement of parents is a huge factor. Over and over again, we heard athletes thanking their parents and family for supporting them. I have a daughter who is just starting secondary school and my son is nine years old and one of the things I am really looking forward to now I have retired from sport – and yes, that is official – is getting more involved in their activities. They are both in a swim club and this alone means at least six trips a week to the pool for training, plus galas which can take up a whole weekend. On top of that there is football, hockey, cricket, dance, plus school and social life! It is a huge commitment but I would urge all parents to look at what opportunities are out there and make different choices if necessary to keep the whole family fit and active.

I’m not just talking about trying to be an elite athlete here. Participation at any level is proven to have a very positive impact both physically and mentally on peoples’ lives. First and foremost, you have to enjoy what you are doing. This may mean trying something totally new and different.

The British handball team manager, Mel Chowns, has told me they want to get into schools to run try-out sessions. Concept 2, who make the rowing machines I have spent so many hours training on, have developed a programmd in schools – row a session, download data, use maths and IT to analyse results – get fit and use your brains!

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I want my children’s role models 
to be the athletes we have seen 
striving for excellence this summer. I want them to visualise themselves standing on a podium singing the national anthem rather than on the X Factor stage singing songs like Beer Fear.

So the legacy of the London 2012 Games is not just something that is going to happen to us. As the last flame flickers from the Paralympic cauldron, bringing an unforgettable sporting occasion to a close, we all need to play our part and inspire a generation – the mantra that enabled every Team GB competitor and medal-winner to exceed all expectations.

• If Not Now, When? by Greg Searle is published by Pan MacMillan and is available now in hardback, price £18.99, or as an ebook.

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