29 April: One of the highlights of the inaugural Henley Food Festival was a presentation by Rebecca Romero and Debbie Flood on 'Nutrition for High Performance Athletes' at the Town Hall.

More than 100 people crowded in to hear the Olympic medallists describe the daily intake of carbohydrate, protein, fat and vitamins required to generate the perfect recipe for Olympic medals.

To gasps of astonishment from the audience tray after tray of pasta, bread, vegetables and meat were brought out to represent the daily intake of a 100Kg athlete. Meanwhile Oxford Brookes' athlete Henry Bailhache Webb, who competed in the GB eight in last year's world championships, couldn't resist tucking in, especially when a 1Kg bar of chocolate was brought out to represent his daily fat intake.

"Nutrition is a key part of our training. If you get it right then the training works and our goals can be achieved" said Rebecca.

"This recipe requires 48 months preparation for just 6 minutes cooking time, when you turn up the heat at the Olympic final" said Debbie.

As she opened the oven, out came the roasting tray, with two Olympic medals cooked to perfection!

Report and photograph by Leander Press Officer Robert Treharne Jones