Helen Glover and Heather Stanning can be best ever, says Sir Steven Redgrave

Sir Steven Redgrave says coxless pair Helen Glover and Heather Stanning will become Britain's best rowing crew in history if they retain their Olympic title in Rio next year.

Glover and Stanning are unbeaten in 28 races spanning four years and landed Olympic gold in 2012 before setting a new world record in 2014 as they won back-to-back world titles.

The duo are in contention to win Team of the Year at Friday's Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards, where they face competition from the Chelsea Ladies and England Women football teams, and England Hockey.

But Redgrave, who won five Olympic titles at five different Games, including coxless pairs gold with Matthew Pinsent in 1992 and 1996, insists there is only one team in it as far as he is concerned.

"I was with Matt Pinsent at the Europeans and he asked me if I thought Helen and Heather are classed as the best British rowing crew we have ever had," Redgrave told Sky Sports.

"I told him if they win the next Olympics then yes they will be, because repeating what they did three years ago would just be an amazing feat and that will put them above what Matthew and I achieved, and what Matthew and James Cracknell achieved."

Speaking about their shortlisting for the voted-for-by-the-public Team of the year Award, Redgrave said: "In all of the years Helen and Heather have rowed with each other they have never been beaten - certainly not since London 2012 - so for me there is only one team in it."

Redgrave was speaking at Sports Aid's annual SportsBall, as the charity - which helped fund around 60 per cent of Team GB's 541 athletes at London 2012 - builds up to its 40th year of providing financial support and recognition for emerging British athletes.

Redgrave, Olympic doubles sculls champion Katherine Grainger, and Glover and Stanning are all previous recipients of SportsAid support. And Grainger, who hopes to defend her Olympic crown at the age of 40 in Rio next year, believes the "phenomenal" duo are making the sport look easy.

"At the moment Helen and Heather are reigning Olympic and world champions and are undefeated since 2011.

"Theirs is not just one-off success, they have success every time they hit the water and I think that has been absolutely inspiring to see. Every time they race people wonder if this is when they will get beaten.

"The pressure increases on them with every race. Everyone wants their scalp but they meet the challenge every time and to see them keep improving is quite inspirational to watch.

"But they're still excited by it, they still feel it's fresh and they still want to get better and get faster. They have a great partnership and they really are a phenomenal team.

They have a great partnership and they really are a phenomenal team. Success does not come easy but they are making it look very easy.

"Success does not come easy but they are making it look very easy."

You can watch The Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards right now On Demand