Sir Steve Redgrave was on hand to give the opening speech of the AngusBusiness week at Dundee and AngusCollege in Arbroath.
The five-time Olympic champion rower gave a speech about determination and commitment.
He said: “Not everyone can be Olympic champion or the best in their field but we can all beat our own personal best, all do better than we did before.”
Sir Steve was in Arbroath following the Ryder Cup, and will be playing golf in the Dunhill so stopped at Dundee and Angus College to speak to students as part of the Angus Business Week.
He said: “It’s really nice to speak to people and get a reception like that.
“I think my story can be inspiring, and teach people about dealing with trauma like I had, and issues like I had.
“I learned that talent isn’t enough, you have to have determination and ambition.”
College depute principal Grant Ritchie said: “Very few people could tell you stories like that, Sir Steve can because of hard work.
“He’s a real motivation to a lot of the students here, his stories of personal achievement can translate into any arena, including business.”
Nicola Duncan, a sports student at the college, said: “His story is really interesting, to hear about the struggles and triumphs in his life.”
Shona Townsend, another sports student, said: “It’s really nice of someone so high-profile to take the time to come and speak to us.”
Students took selfies and posed for photos with Sir Steve and asked him questions.
The Olympic rower’s talk kicks off a week of discussions at the Dundee and Angus College’s Arbroath campus.
Angus Business Week is in its inaugural year and run by a number of organisations. The week hopes to help businesses reach their potential.
Talks and events cover many topics, from guides to business start-up and the basics of hiring and firing, to maximising the potential of your workforce and leadership.
Events and talks are occurring across Angus and a full programme is available at angusbusinessweek.co.uk.