Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE

Four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE, started rowing during his university years. As president of the Oxford Rowing Club, he competed in the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race in 1990 and 1991, leading Oxford to triumph over Cambridge both times. His Olympic triumphs began the next year, winning Gold at the Barcelona Olympics alongside his partner Sir Steve Redgrave. This marked the start of a successful partnership, as the duo went on to win seven World Championships and gold medals in the subsequent Olympic Games in 1996, 2000, and 2004.

In August 2000, Pinsent featured in the BBC documentary 'Gold Fever.' This three-part series followed the coxless four team, consisting of Redgrave, James Cracknell, and Tim Foster, in the years leading up to the Olympics. After their success at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Matthew formed a coxless pair with James Cracknell, and they broke the world record by four seconds. In 2001, Matthew was elected to the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission.

After retiring from rowing in 2004, he was made a Knight Bachelor. He had already been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire and was elevated to Commander. The next year, he received the prestigious ‘Thomas Keller Medal’ from the International Rowing Federation.

Since his retirement, Matthew has continued to be a prominent figure on television, working as a sports bulletin presenter and reporter for the BBC. He also umpires and comments on major rowing events like the Olympics, Henley Royal Regatta, and The Boat Races. He directed the documentary on swimmer Chad Le Clos, titled "Unbelievable – The Chad Le Clos Story."

As a distinguished athlete, Matthew rowed on the Gloriana as part of the royal pageant for the 2012 Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II and appeared again on the Gloriana the following month, bearing the Olympic torch as it crossed the River Thames.

Sir Matthew Pinsent is often sought as a motivational and after-dinner speaker for corporate events. His engaging stories and presentation style have impressed guests at notable companies such as Proctor & Gamble, IBM, British Telecom, NatWest, Camelot, and Lombard. His popular speeches cover topics like motivation, communication, teamwork, and maintaining a positive mindset in the corporate world.