Agile is not the first word that springs to mind when you look at 6ft 7in Mark Covell - but that just goes to show how deceptive first impressions can be. 'I pride myself on how nimble I am on the dancefloor,' the Crew ambassador tells us. For Mark, his size has always been a help rather than a hindrance, as was proved conclusively when he won the silver medal in the Star Class sailing category at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Sailing has always been part of Mark's life, as his father used to run the Hayling Island Sailing Club near Portsmouth. 'For many years I was a professional sailor, winning classes outside the Olympics, trying to win to get to the Olympics,' he says, remembering the build-up to 2000.

ideal, having both had years of experience in different sailing disciplines. But, in reality, it worked. Perfectly.

Glyn's sponsors agreed to continue to support the campaign, so with financial backing and incredible drive and focus in Mark's heart, the duo began to get themselves match fit for the 2000 Games. 'The combination of Ian being who he is, and the way he tackles things, and my time in Star class - we were like Torvill and Dean!'

Intense training followed, and a couple of injuries could have derailed the two sailors' efforts, but each hurdle was duly smashed through, with the men coming out stronger than before.

Finally, they got to the Olympics, and kept their tactics simple. 'We set ourselves a simple goal: to do what we had trained to do, and control what we could control. We just enjoyed the experience of the Olympic Games. So we set sail and everything just worked.' After their silver medal-winning performance, it was clear their calm resilience had paid off.

Following the Olympics, Mark decided to slow his life down, choosing not to pursue another Olympic campaign. Instead he went down the media route, allowing him to divert more attention to his family, including his two young daughters. He also spends some of his time producing on-board films, and offering his expert opinion to the likes of Sky Sports.

Mark's motivation, knowledge and resolutely positive attitude to life has led him to become involved in a new challenge: the Boat Project - a 30ft vessel made from thousands of pieces of wood, each donated by members of the public, each with its own story. 'It was this incredible, crazy idea and I refused to accept it couldn't be done,' says Mark of this unique seafaring archive. Did he put anything in himself? Perhaps some sailing memorabilia, or something to commemorate his career? 'My mother and I put in an old Fisher-Price walking dog which you pull along - the one that has the funny axle and a springy tail!'

What else would you expect from a former Olympic medallist?