By Matt Barlow, PA Sport

Steve Redgrave challenged Matthew Pinsent to beat his haul of five gold medals - but refused to count himself out of the Athens Olympics.

Britain's rowing hero, the first Olympian to win five golds at successive Games in an endurance sport, urged his friend and team-mate to target the record.

Pinsent - 30 next week - has already enjoyed three Olympic triumphs alongside Redgrave, but is considering his own future in the boat.

Redgrave said: "Matthew is not totally convinced he'll carry on, but I'm convinced he will and I'm sure he'll be successful in four years time. Then, who knows? There's no reason why he can't go and beat five.

"I'm sure it will be beaten and I'd like to think it would be him. Records are made to be broken, so why not?"

In 1996, Redgrave famously announced his own retirement moments after winning his fourth Olympic crown in Atlanta - only to change his mind four months later when he decided to head Down Under in the Coxless Fours.

After adding a fifth gold to the unique collection in Sydney, the 38-year-old has kept deliberately quiet about his future.

Redgrave said: "I haven't been able to think about what happens for me now. I'm racing again in 10 days, but it's too early to talk about four years time. Last time, I didn't make my decision for four months.

"I've kept my mouth well and truly shut this time. We weren't engulfed by the media as soon as we crossed the line and we had time to compose ourselves.

"We really enjoyed that moment of paddling in front of the grandstand.

"The Princess Royal said, when she gave me the medal: 'This is the second time I've give you an Olympic gold medal, I don't want to make it a third'."

Redgrave's wife Ann, the team doctor for the British rowing team, is likely to agree with the Princess.

She surprised her husband with the equivalent of a retirement gift at Heathrow Airport today when she handed him the keys to a £51,000 Jaguar.

It all made for an emotional return to Britain for Redgrave who received the biggest cheer from the hundreds of friends, fans and family members who had gathered outside the arrivals gate at Heathrow's Terminal 4 before dawn.

Redgrave said: "We had a good idea what the feeling might be like in Britain.

"The way Australia treated us as a four was very special and that's got to be magnified so much more at home.

"We've been away for a long time and nice to get some recognition for what we've done. The reception was tremendous and I'm looking forward to getting home.

"In past Olympics I've gone through emotions of highs and lows, thinking 'Now it's over what do I do?' but it's been over a week and I'm still feeling on top of the world and enjoying every minute of it.

"I wanted to be part of the Sydney experience. I thought it was going to be a fantastic Games and it didn't disappoint.

"It was probably the best. It's always difficult to pick out one. It's like picking out a favourite child from your own children. You can't do it because you love them all and they're all different in their own ways."

Tim Foster, 30, and James Cracknell, 28, who made up the other half of the men's Coxless Fours came home clutching their first gold medals and wearing enormous smiles.

Foster said: "To see people come here and cheer us at the airport at 4am was magnificent and something I never associated with what I achieved.

"It's been great having the support of the public and we couldn't have done it without them."

The rower admitted he was relishing the attention which has come his way since the historic race in Sydney when the British four summoned a heroic effort to pip the Italian boat on the line.

Other sports added to Britain's best Olympic medal haul since 1924 and the celebrations have barely ceased, but none of the rowers wanted to commit themselves to Athens in 2004.

Foster said: "Four years can seem like a long way away even though now, when the memory is still fresh, that's enough of a buzz to get you out there when the wind's blowing and it's cold.

"It all depends on individuals. You can't impose on others.

"We've spent the last four years as a very tight unit and you can't ever feel pressured to continue because the others want to continue and you can't feel pressured to stop because the others are stopping.

"You have to be selfish and think about yourselves. I have to work out if my back can put up with it. If I'm doing permanent damage then I have to stop.

"Matthew has his reasons, James his and Steve has his own in terms of whether he feels he can achieve any more or whether Ann will let him carry on."