OXFORD’S only 2012 Olympic gold medallist Andy Triggs Hodge is basking in the glow of his success.

Just two weeks ago he was winning success with Team GB at London 2012.

Now he is back at home in East Oxford – and he wants a permanent reminder in Cowley Road of his success.

Mr Triggs Hodge, who stormed to victory in the mens rowing fours earlier this month, has lived off Cowley Road for the past decade.

Royal Mail has painted a postbox gold for each London gold medallist, but as Mr Triggs Hodge grew up in Yorkshire, one has been painted in the village of Hebden, near Skipton.

Relaxing at home yesterday, the 6ft 3in rower said: “I know lots of people who have had two.

“I like the idea of getting the postbox at the end of my street, on Cowley Road, painted gold. That could be my postbox then.”

The 33-year-old, who has lived in the city since completing his masters degree at Oxford University , has now won gold medals in Beijing and London.

And since returning home last week, the rower has been having some fun with his latest medal.

He said: “I was going to the Cherwell Boathouse with a friend and he said I should cycle along with it, so I did.

“I cycled through the city centre wearing the medal and people kept doing double-takes, others didn’t even notice it.

“Then we took it punting.”

He added: “And I was walking along Cowley Road the other day when a guy cycled past, saw me and then doubled back.

“He said ‘gold medallist?’ And when I said ‘yes’, he said ‘that’s awesome, well done mate’ and cycled off.”

But far from taking pride of place at his terraced home, Mr Triggs Hodge said the medals would mostly stay in their box, only to be used for special events or to inspire future generations.

He is in the process of accepting invitations to visit local schools.

He said: “The way I see it is that the medal is not for me. They are to show and inspire others and bring smiles to the faces of people. For a few short weeks, the whole country came together and I’m proud to have had a role to play in that. I’d like to help the country remember it.”

In the meantime, Mr Triggs Hodge is enjoying time to relax, getting stuck into his gardening and enjoying the first official night off earlier this week, in Cowley Road’s Cafe Tarifa.

He will also be going on a long overdue honeymoon with wife of two years, Eeke, a surgeon at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital .

He said: “I love Oxford. Living on Cowley Road you get so many different types of people here in a really friendly environment.

“It is good to be able to relax and unwind and Oxford is a big part of that for me. I think we’ll be here for a long time.”

Oxford Lord Mayor Alan Armitage backed the postbox campaign, saying: “Oxford has a proud sporting history.

“We might not have a golden postbox now, but we have some great candidates for gold medals in the future.”

And Oxford legend Sir Roger Bannister, who broke the four-minute mile in 1954, said: “I would certainly back something which would further recognise his distinction and I’m sure it would be a great source of interest that Oxford residents would much appreciate.

“I’m delighted that he has had this double haul of gold and hope he can make it a triple haul in four years.”

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said the authority was looking at ways of creating an Olympic legacy and would “help with the campaign in any way it could”.

Royal Mail spokesman Nick Martens said Royal Mail had no plans to paint any additional postboxes for Team GB athletes.