Rowing

13 gold medals, four records and some of the finest British names mean England have a place in the sport's history books.

An optional sport and not seen since 1986, rowing was on the sports programme between 1930 and 1962 with the exception of 1934.

The 1930 British Empire & Commonwealth Games yielded two titles for England to ensure that things began with a bang. Hugh Edwards won two gold medals, one each in the coxless fours and eights, which set him up nicely for the Los Angeles Olympics two years later where he again took two titles.

But was on the sport's most recent appearance where England excelled. 24-year-old Steve Redgrave, fresh from the World Championships in Nottingham just a few weeks before and with just the one Olympic gold medal, became the nation's most successful rower as he cruised to three gold medals and set two records.

In 2002 the newly-knighted Sir Steve Redgrave, with five Olympic gold medals, kicked off the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester (above).

Looking back on his achievements he credited his Team England experience as being a turning point in his career, admitting that he had actually considered retirement just prior to the Edinburgh 1986 Games. Future team mate and two-time Olympic champion James Cracknell said in 2013 that it was watching the Commonwealth Games as a teenager that inspired him to take up rowing.