Steve Redgrave (rowing): The veteran rower has refused to be drawn on his future. Having successfully completed his quest for a fifth Olympic gold, the 38-year-old will be back on the water in 10 days' time. He owns the rights to Super Sprint Rowing plc, a company that is launching a new rowing competition at Windsor on October 14. But can he leave the oars behind after that? Athens has not been ruled out.

Richard Faulds (shooting): The part-time shooting instructor - the first Briton to qualify for Sydney - will spend time during the winter recuperating after a long international season. He will partake in the occasional 'Sunday shoot' through the winter in preparation for the new season in February. At the age of 23, Faulds has the potential to repeat his feat in the clay pigeon discipline in Athens.

Audley Harrison (boxing): The Briton who will undoubtedly earn the most money from his Olympic success. The 28-year-old super-heavyweight gold medalist is being coveted by the world's top boxing promoters about a professional career, with figures in excess of £60million used as bait. He is to have an operation on his left hand and then decide which of the many offers he has received to accept.

Denise Lewis (heptathlon): The former Wonderbra girl is expected to sign numerous new sponsorship deals following her brilliant display in the heptathlon. But her new-found wealth will not stop the 28-year-old from continuing in track and field and she has pledged to defend her title in Athens.

Jonathan Edwards (triple jump): The north-easterner has suggested he will be more relaxed in his approach to sport, claiming he will put the triple jump as a lower priority in his life following his fourth Olympics. He will compete in the Grand Prix final in Qatar later this month, however, and goes in search of another gold in next year's world championships.

Stephanie Cook (modern pentathlon)

She must now decide whether to devote more time to practice or whether to shelve her athletic achievements and concentrate on her medical career - she is a qualified doctor and has a desire to work in the Third World. She said: "Medicine has been my career and what I have done in Sydney doesn't change what is in my heart."