THIS year it is a full quarter of a century since one local woman wrote herself into the Olympic history books with a sporting feat that no Briton has matched since.

In 1984 at the Los Angeles Games, Tessa Sanderson won what is still Britain’s sole gold medal in the javelin event.

This week, on the 25th anniversary of her 69.56m winning throw, Sanderson CBE shared the memory of her precious moment with the Guardian.

“It was unique," she said. "To be honest, I can’t believe nobody has gone on to win a throwing gold medal since I did.

“That win was one of the most important things that I’ve ever done in my life. It was fantastic and, when I think about it now, I would like to bottle that moment if I could, because it was so special.”

Sanderson, who resides in a leafy part of Redbridge, is now busy searching for the 'perfect kid' to triumph at throwing for Britain.

And she has plenty to say why the country has failed to find her successor at a Olympic throwing event.

“I don’t think field events have been given the respect they deserve by the governing body,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve really been given the respect I deserve, to go out and help kids.”

She revealed that the official inertia she sensed in the corridors of power sparked her to found the Newham Sports Academy, at Newham Leisure Centre.

“I started the academy soon after London won the bid for the 2012 Games. There was a lot of talent in the east end which wasn’t being picked up on, and there’s a lot of kids living in deprived areas who need the opportunities to do sport.

“Hopefully that will change now, but I’ve gone out there and done it myself. I’ve been doing it for the past three or four years and now they are cottoning on.”

Today, there are 69 youngsters at Tessa’s Newham Academy. They can get trained and mentored by ex-international athletes.

And while the hunt is still on for her javelin successor there, she has high hopes that some others will make it into London 2012.

Two judo youths are looking promising, and so is a paralympic swimmer.

Sanderson also told the Guardian how she carved out a media career for herself after retirement, despite being jilted by some major broadcasters.

Just last weekend, the woman who competed at six Olympiads was on TV alongside disgraced football pundit Ron Atkinson, in Channel Four’s Wife Swap.

“It was a great show, but Ron Atkinson was not my biggest challenge. Absolutely not,” she quipped.

And her moment of glory in Los Angeles lives on still, and helps the Academy.

“I think it (fame) helps a little bit, but all the work, I’ve done on my own. Some of the kids were not even born when I won my medal, but they all have fantastic talents which I want to nuture,” she said.

For more on the Newham Academy, visit: www.tessa.co.uk/index.php