Miriam and Guin Batten are among the nation's heroines after they gained silver medals for rowing in the Sydney Olympics.

But the sporting sisters, who grew up in Ditchling, really did it in memory of their mum Madella who died from cancer more than two years ago.

Theirs is an astonishing tale of late success as they are both well into their thities and Miriam showed little sign of talent while at school.

Yet they are now among the first four women to have gained Olympic rowing medals for Britain.

They spent agonising hours in training so that they had the skill and stamina to gain the silver medals.

But their greatest wish, that their mum could have lived long enough to see their triumph, was sadly never to have been granted.