Pinsent becomes Sir Matthew

New knight Sir Matthew
© FISA

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Matthew Pinsent of Great Britain has been honoured with a knighthood in the British New Year’s honours list. This caps off a 17-year international rowing career that began in 1987 at the World Rowing Junior Championships.

Pinsent’s first senior medal came in 1989 when his coxed four won bronze at the World Rowing Championships. But his rowing career really took off when he teamed up with Sir Steve Redgrave a year later in Redgrave’s pursuit of Olympic gold medal number three.

Two years later Pinsent competed at his first Olympics in Barcelona winning a gold medal in the pair with Redgrave. The partnership lasted for another two Olympic Games and further two gold medals for Pinsent.

After Redgrave’s retirement in 2000, Pinsent continued on to Athens where he secured his fourth gold medal in the four. The closely fought race with Canada ended in a photo finish and the final stroke of Pinsent’s rowing career.

Earlier this month Pinsent announced his retirement from rowing. He will pursue a career in broadcasting.

Also credited in the New Year’s honours list were Pinsent’s team-mates James Cracknell, who has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire), and Steve Williams and Ed Coode who both received MBEs (Member of the British Empire). Cracknell won his second Olympic gold at Athens while Williams and Coode both picked up their first Olympic gold.

British International Rowing Manager, David Tanner paid tribute to Pinsent, “This is a great honour for Matthew and the sport of rowing and a tremendous accolade for Matthew’s consistent success at the highest level of our sport.”

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