19 Facts About Matthew Pinsent

Sir Matthew Clive Pinsent, is an English rower and broadcaster.

Matthew Pinsent's father was the Rev Ewen Macpherson Pinsent, curate of St Andrew's parish church, Kelso, Scottish Borders, and his mother, Jean Grizel, came from a distinguished military family.

Matthew Pinsent attended Aysgarth School in North Yorkshire before he began rowing at Eton College.

Matthew Pinsent began his international career at the World Rowing Junior Championships in 1987.

Matthew Pinsent raced again in 1988, winning the junior coxless pairs with Tim Foster.

Matthew Pinsent carried the flag for Team GB at the opening ceremony.

Matthew Pinsent was the subject of This Is Your Life in November 2000 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel during a party celebrating the achievements of the British Olympic Association at the London Aquarium.

Matthew Pinsent was elected to the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission in 2001, replacing Jan Zelezny.

In 2004, at the Athens Olympics, Matthew Pinsent failed to secure re-election to the post, being replaced by Zelezny.

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

Matthew Pinsent had already been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1993, raised to Commander in 2001.

Matthew Pinsent was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal by the International Rowing Federation in 2005.

Since retiring from rowing, Matthew Pinsent has worked for the BBC as a sports bulletin presenter and reporter.

Matthew Pinsent's assignments have included interviewing Dwain Chambers for Inside Sport, where Chambers confessed to taking drugs, and visiting gymnastics training centre in China where he found evidence of children being beaten, leading to IOC President Jacques Rogge to order an inquiry.

Matthew Pinsent has maintained his ties to rowing as an umpire or commentator of key events on the rowing calendar such as the Olympics, Henley Royal Regatta and The Boat Races.

Matthew Pinsent umpired his first "Blue Boat" race in 2013.

In June 2012, Matthew Pinsent rowed on the Gloriana as part of the royal pageant for the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

Matthew Pinsent appeared again on the Gloriana the following month, bearing the olympic torch as it crossed the river Thames.

In 2020 Matthew Pinsent appeared as a contestant on Series 15 of BBC Television's Celebrity Masterchef, finishing in joint-second place.