SIR Steve Redgrave is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Buckingham a popular institute for dyslexic students and a major UK centre in diabetes research.
The five-times Olympic gold winner, who is both diabetic and dyslexic, will be capped and gowned at a special ceremony on March 3.
Anne Matsuoka, a spokesman for the university in Buckingham, said: "He is an outstanding example to our students and we are very proud to be able to honour him in this way."
Sir Steve, of Marlow Bottom, was diagnosed with diabetes after winning his fourth Olympic gold in Atlanta.
He said: "I'm honoured and delighted to receive a degree of Doctor of Science from the University of Buckingham. Rowing has opened more doors than I could ever have imagined."
Mrs Matsuoka added: "The award acknowledges not only Sir Steven's accomplishments as an Olympian, but the hurdles he has overcome to achieve this position. It was felt that an honorary degree would be a way of showing the University's admiration of a local man's success in, not only learning to live with diabetes, but in spectacularly overcoming the problems it has posed.
"He is an outstanding example to our students and we are very proud to be able to honour him in this way."
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