Pinsent, Matthew (1970- )

English rower who won gold medals at four consecutive Olympic Games. In 1990 he joined Steve Redgrave in the coxless pairs and they won a bronze medal at the World Championships. The following year they were unbeaten and became world champions, winning the championships a further three times in a row. Pinsent won his first Olympic gold medal in 1992, with Redgrave in the coxless pairs. They retained their Olympic title in 1996. In 1997 Redgrave and Pinsent switched to a coxless four, and won the World Championships three years running. They also won gold at this event in the 2000 Olympic Games, Pinsent's third Olympic title and Redgrave's fifth. Pinsent won his fourth Olympic gold at the same event in Athens in 2004, beating the Canadian team by 0.08 seconds.

Career highlights

Olympic Games gold coxless pairs 1992, 1996; gold coxless four 2000, 2004

World Championships gold coxless pairs 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002; gold coxed pair 2001; gold coxless four 1997, 1998, 1999; bronze coxed four 1989; bronze coxless pairs 1990

World Junior Championships gold coxless pairs 1988

Pinsent has also won several times at the Henley Royal Regatta, England, and competed in the University Boat Race three times for Oxford, winning twice. He made his international debut in the eight at the World Junior Championships in 1987. He won his first gold medal the following year in the junior coxless pairs. He was awarded an MBE in 1993.

He was chosen to carry the British team flag at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. In 2001 he was elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athlete's Commission.