Runner Dan praises fellow Olympian Pete (From Stroud News and Journal)

Runner Dan praises fellow Olympian Pete

3:19pm Wednesday 15th August 2012 in News By Hayley Mortimer, Reporter

DOUBLE Olympian Dan Robinson has praised the hard work and achievement of gold medal winner Pete Reed. The 37-year-old former international marathon runner competed in Athens and Beijing, but this time he was able to sit back and enjoy the London games.

He watched on television as Pete triumphed as part of the men's coxless four on Satruday, August 4.

Dan, a sports teacher at Beaudesert school, Minchinhampton, said: "What Pete has done is a phenomenal achievement. To win gold in Beijing and then to maintain focus and skill to perform at that level again is fantastic. He fully deserves all the applause he gets.

"The gold post boxes are great. It is a wonderful idea and another way of marking the great achievements of British athletes."

Dan was happy to enjoy the different experience of being a spectator at this year's games and successfully applied for tickets to the rowing at Eton Dorney and two athletics sessions in the Olympic Stadium.

He said: ""I was a long way off the standard required to compete this year. I didn't have any regrets though. I wasn't watching thinking 'that should be me up there.'

"The men's marathon has always been the last event and we didn't fly in until late so I didn't get to see much of the games in Athens and Beijing."

He added: "Even when you are in the Olympic Village it is a stressful environment because there is always the thought in the back of your head that you have a race to do.

"This time I could really enjoy the best sporting event in the world."