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.
Pinsents 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 mens 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, Pinsents rowing achievements include 4 Olympic gold medals, 10 World Rowing Championship golds and 6 Rowing World Cup gold medals in the mens four, mens pair and even the mens 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 mens 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).