Many patients become depressed not only because previous activities are beyond them but also because the actual disease process can affect mood.

Fox grins with wry irony as his youngest daughter clasps and tries to stem the shaking of a hand that once relied on absolute steadiness for its impeccable aim on the range.

In fact one of the specialists virtually told me as much. You get fed up and wonder why you've been fingered when you've never smoked or done drugs and drank only in moderation.

"I couldn't wash myself or raise my arms above my head. You begin to wonder what happens when you get incontinent and start to think about other possibilities. Then you slap yourself for being a morbid old fool and realise what a lucky sod you are to have had such a cracking life and start believing that there's a lot more to come." In Fox's case the fact that he spurned self-pity for a vigorous, reborn self-belief was spurred by the positive effect of a relatively new medication, together with the incentive to fight for the preservation of a pursuit that brought him so much fulfilment.

A soldier from boyhood, Fox was made up to captain a year after his Olympic triumph.After his many conquests he settled into happily married life and has three effervescent, athletic daughters, Neredie, 18, an accomplished fencer who is studying Chinese at Edinburgh University, 17-year-old Georgina and Roberta, 12, a potential modern pentathlete. Fox is still able to drive his specially converted Jag and regularly travels to events and meetings around the country.Already appointed OBE, he recently received the Olympic Order, one of sport's top international honours.Britain hosts the world modern pentathlon championships in Millfield in 2001 and you can bet that the old soldier will be there on parade. Charrería is Mexico's national sport, baseball the most popular sport in the northwest and southeast regions, basketball, a American football and bullfighting are also highly popular and appreciated.