PARTICIPANTS in most sports use a wide range of skills.

A footballer dribbles, kicks with both feet, heads, throws, tackles, traps feints, anticipates, copes with cheating opponents, abusive spectators and unfair decisions.

A tennis player drives, smashes, spins, lobs, serves, volleys, plays drop shots and half-volleys, anticipates, copes with cheating opponents, abusive spectators and unfair decisions.

A cricketer cuts, glances, drives, hooks, blocks, sweeps, catches, bowls, throws, anticipates, copes with cheating opponents, etc.

But Steve Redgrave rows, and er, that seems to be it really.

Am I missing something? Should there also be Olympic medals and national gongs for other single-minded zealots who practise three times a day for 20 years at other power and stamina events like Running Backwards Up The Stairs Of The Empire State Building?

KEITH ELLEL, Westwood Avenue, Rishton.