Thomas Keller Medal Awarded to Sir Matthew Pinsent
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
Britains 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).
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