Northern Ireland rowing hope Alan Campbell is being backed by Olympic rower Steve Redgrave to strike gold at the London 2012 Olympics.

Redgrave announced his support for Coleraine sculler Campbell at a recent University of Ulster sports dinner, according to the Belfast Telegraph .

The event was held to boost funds for the University's Northern Ireland Sports Institute at Jordanstown, where superb, state-of-the-art facilities are designed to boost the performances of elite competitors like Campbell.

Redgrave, a five-times gold medallist, said Campbell was the fastest rower we had in single sculls.

He added: "I thought he had a medal chance in the last Beijing Olympics but he was struck down before the games by [a] virus.

"Now he's a new world silver medallist, roll on 2012, because I think he's got a fantastic chance."

Campbell has established himself as a strong and respected competitor in the solo world of the men's single, winning in Banyoles in the 2009 World Cup series and taking silver in Munich against the Olympic medallists from Beijing.