Matthew Pinsent

Sir Matthew Pinsent (born October 10, 1970) is a British rowing champion and four-time Olympic gold medallist.

Related Topics:
October 10 - 1970 - Rowing - Olympic

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Pinsent was born in Holt, Norfolk, England, and began rowing at Eton College. He began his international career at the Junior World Rowing Championships in 1987. He raced again in 1988, winning the junior coxless pairs with Tim Foster. After finishing school, Pinsent studied Geography at St Catherine's College, Oxford. He competed in three Boat Races, winning in 1990 and 1991 but unsuccessful in 1993 (when he was Boat Club President), having taken a year out in 1992 in order to concentrate on preparing for the Barcelona Olympics.

Related Topics:
Holt, Norfolk, England - Eton College - Junior World Rowing Championships - 1987 - 1988 - Tim Foster - St Catherine's College, Oxford - Boat Race

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In 1990, while still at Oxford, he joined Steve Redgrave in the coxless pair at the World Rowing Championships – winning bronze. This was the beginning of a long partnership, and the pair won at the World Championships in 1991, and at the Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996. In 2000 they won Olympic gold again as part of a coxless four with James Cracknell and Tim Foster.

Related Topics:
1990 - Steve Redgrave - World Rowing Championships - 1991 - 1992 - 1996 - 2000 - James Cracknell - Tim Foster

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Pinsent and Cracknell then formed a men's coxless pair and won the coxless and coxed pairs (with Neil Chugani coxing) in the 2001 World Championships, and the coxless pair in 2002. However, after a disappointing 2003 season that saw Pinsent's first World Championships defeat since 1991, he and Cracknell moved to the men's coxless four for 2004. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Pinsent's fourth Olympic Games, Pinsent stroked the boat, with Cracknell, Ed Coode and Steve Williams. In a close race with world champions Canada, they again won gold.

Related Topics:
Neil Chugani - 2004 Summer Olympics - Athens - Ed Coode - Steve Williams

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Pinsent was elected to the International Olympic Committee's Athletics Commission in 2001, replacing Jan Zelezny. In 2004, at the Athens Olympics, Pinsent failed to secure re-election to the post, being replaced by Zelezny.

Related Topics:
International Olympic Committee - 2001 - Jan Zelezny - 2004

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Pinsent announced his retirement from rowing on 30 November 2004, and was made a knight in the New Year's Honours list announced on 31 December 2004.

Related Topics:
30 November - 2004 - Knight - New Year's Honours - 31 December

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