An Olympic gold medallist will come to the Towns for the Medway Mile – exactly a year before the 2012 Games’ opening ceremony.

Swimmer Duncan Goodhew won the 100m breaststroke in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

The 54-year-old will head for the historic streets of Rochester to launch the fifth annual race, supported by the Medway Messenger, on July 27.

Organisers hope thousands of runners of all ages will sign up for the free one-mile run, and the swimmer urged Medway people to get involved.

He said: "I’ve seen how successful these mile runs are in engaging the whole community. You feel better physically and psychologically after exercise, and more comfortable in your own skin."

He became a world-class athlete despite having dyslexia and a condition which made him lose his hair aged 10.

He said: "People should never think they can’t achieve what I have. When I started sport I didn’t know I was going to win – I just loved being with people who were running, swimming, playing rugby and so on."

Duncan is attending the Medway Mile as an ambassador for sponsors Southern Water.

For more information on this, visit the European Pentathlon website or phone 01634 338338. Enter the Medway Mile or download an entry form at the Medway Mile website