Pinsent to Receive Rowing’s Top Honour
Sir Matthew Pinsent of Great Britain is to be the recipient of the 2005 Thomas Keller Medal for an "outstanding career in rowing" awarded by the International Rowing Federation (FISA).
The medal has been established as the highest honour in the sport of rowing and is presented to recognise an exceptional rowing career as well as exemplary sportsmanship. Named after the late President of FISA, the first medal was first awarded to the great Norwegian oarsman Alf Hansen in 1990.
Pinsent’s rowing career spanned over 17 years, since his International debut at the Junior World Championships in 1987. He became part of the rowing legend when he partnered Sir Steve Redgrave to help win his 5th consecutive Olympic Gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
When Redgrave retired, Pinsent teamed up with James Cracknell in the men’s pair, continuing the World Championship winning streak and going unbeaten until 2002. Pinsent returned to the four for the 2004 Athens Olympics, successfully ending his rowing career with a fourth Olympic Gold medal.
Since 1990, Pinsent’s rowing achievements include 4 Olympic gold medals, 10 World Rowing Championship golds and 6 Rowing World Cup gold medals in the men’s four, men’s pair and even the men’s coxed pair, making him one of Britain’s most successful athletes in any sport.
The 18-carat gold Thomas Keller medal will be presented to Pinsent by Dominik Keller, son of the late Thomas Keller, on Saturday 28 May 2005, just after the men’s eight race at the BearingPoint Rowing World Cup regatta in Eton, Great Britain (26 to 28 May).
Previous awardees of the medal include Nico Rienks (NED), Peter Antonie (AUS), Marnie McBean (CAN) and Sir Steve Redgrave (GBR).
For additional information contact Marion Gallimore at FISA on +41.21 612 20 26 or by e-mail: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected] </a>
<h4>Contact Details</h4>For media enquiries about British Rowing please contact <a href="../contact/index.php#Caroline">Caroline Searle</a>
British Rowing website – <a href="../biographies/index.php">full biogs available here</a>.
International Rowing returns to GB for the World Cup in May 2005 and the 2006 World Rowing Championships – both at Eton. You’ll be kept up to date by BearingPoint World Cup Eton News. Official website <a href="http://www.wrc2006.com" target="blank">www.wrc2006.com</a>
Accreditation and results details for major international events can be found at <a href="http://www.worldrowing.com" target="blank">www.worldrowing.com</a>
The GB Rowing Squad is supported by the National Lottery Sports Fund as part of UK Sport’s World Class Performance Programme.
