OS Meets Sir Matthew Pinsent






You’ve been a fan of Oliver Sweeney for quite a while – why do you like the brand so much?

I like Oliver Sweeney because I’ve got a bit of a challenge in the foot department in that I have large plates of meat which need to be shed in nice pieces of leather and Oliver Sweeney a. caters for my size and b. has a range that encompasses classic through to not just casual but also trendy and relaxed at the same time which is a very difficult act to pull off especially when you have large feet like me!

Since retiring from rowing what have you been doing to fill your time?

I retired from the sport in 2004 after the Olympics. I then moved into media and journalism both with the BBC and The Times and I’ve been there ever since. I cover lots of different sports with a slant towards Olympic sports. I’ve stayed in touch with rowing, but haven’t been actively rowing for quite a while. I go to Henley each year and enjoy watching the results pour in from the current Great Britain team.

Would you be inclined to make a comeback like Greg Searle who’s going to be competing in the Men’s Eight after eight years in retirement?

No comebacks on the agenda for me! A very simple answer to that question! No.

You’ve won four Gold medals - which was your favourite?

It’s hard to choose. I think my favourite Olympics was probably Sydney because it was the combination of winning, the place and the people. The fans definitely revolutionised that Games for us as athletes. So yes it was probably Sydney.

London is obviously looming large on the horizon – do you wish you were still rowing so you could row in your home country?

No I’m not worried I’m very happy with where I am. My rowing is done and even if I wanted to make a comeback I couldn’t and I don’t so I’m happy!

Do you think there will be extra pressure for the athletes as it’s a home Games?

Hopefully. I think pressure’s good in the sports sense. If you’re good and you’re experienced and you’ve done quite a bit then you perform well in that sort of situation so I hope for the vast majority of the British athletes the pressure will be a good thing. I hope they’ll see it as their moment and the most important day, morning, hour or minute of their life and they’ll have the freedom and enjoyment that means they’ll do really well.

Do you think what happened at the World Cup is a tell tale sign for the Olympics or is there room for a shake up?

There’s always room for outsiders. I think it’s something like 60 or 70% of people who win during the season go on to win at the end of the year but as soon as you say that you think well hang on then 30-40% are going to do it on the day and they don’t worry what goes beforehand. It’s only the Olympics that matters. If you cross the line in the Olympics first then you’re remembered. That’s the only thing that matters.

The rowing team’s been having a bit of a shake up with Pete Reed and Andy Triggs-Hodge being moved out of the Pair into the Four - do you think that’s going to affect the mindset of those that have missed out on a place in the Four?

No I think we’ve now morphed what was essentially a top boat in the Pair that wasn’t winning into a Four that should now win and hopefully an Eight that could win. I think that’s about the balance of it and I still think there’s a chance for the Pair who are now in inverted commas “bottom rank boat” to do reasonably well. We’ve now got two great chances in the Four and the Eight to win a Gold medal.

Do you think it was always Jurgen Grobler’s plan to keep Andy Hodge and Pete Reed in the Pair for as long as possible?

I think it very much depends on the results you get. If you carry on trying and trying in the Pair and they carry on winning Silver after Silver then the writing is on the wall. I don’t think Jurgen or anyone within that setup would be happy with Silver - that’s not why they are there.

You were involved with the London 2012 bid it’s now here – explain how you’re feeling?

I’ve been at fever pitch for a long time. I think this a genuine chance for London to change quite dramatically. I don’t think there will be a force for change in London in our lifetime that’s as big as the Olympics. We’ve got a chance to update ourselves a little bit. We’ve been famous for double decker buses, Grenadier Guardsmen, taxis and bobbies with their helmets. That’s all a bit dated now so London 2012 will be a chance for us to project ourselves in a way that’s new and hopefully quite different and modern. There’s a nod to the past – it’s no secret or surprise that we’re using a lot of our historic story as a backdrop - that’s our heritage, but we’ve also got to be forward facing. I think it’s about time London had a new facet and forward looking event.

If you were a betting man who would you put your money on to win medals?

I think we’ll do slightly better than we did in Beijing. I think we’ll do better at rowing. We need to win two Golds in Track and Field, Swimming I’m chalking up for two to three, Cycling maybe four, Sailing three maybe four and then you’re off into the land of Modern Pentathlon, Judo, Taekwondo, Hockey, Equestrian, and Boxing. If we start getting those guys coming then suddenly a target of 20 Golds is within range. It’s very exciting!

How do you walk your own path?

You walk your own path usually by backing yourself and taking a riskier route. The vast majority of people go through life playing it safe. I think the most successful people are those who once in a while or very consistently take a riskier route because the rewards for taking the riskier route are obvious if it works, but even if it doesn’t work whatever it is career, sport or life, you still learn a huge amount about yourself and your chance of succeeding next time. I would always say to walk your own path back yourself even if it’s riskier or less likely that you’re going to be successful. It’s more rewarding.

What makes your toes curl?

Usually what makes my toes curl is either good comedy so acutely observed that is kind of nails down a chalkboard. The Office is a good example – I like it, I realise the craft in its creation, but I literally can’t watch it. It’s too toe curling. And I’ve never worked in an office! And the other extreme is comedy that’s so bad it’s toe curlingly bad – someone dying on stage that’s awful!

Whose shoes would you like to be in for the day?

Whose shoes would I like to be in for the day? Hmm that’s a question! I’ll go Bubba Watson who won the US Masters in Golf. He seems like he has a nice attitude. He seemed very loose, very free and can drive the ball like no man on earth!

Which are your favourite Oliver Sweeney shoes?

Farfalle. They’re my favourite Oliver Sweeney shoes and the first Oliver Sweeney shoes I ever owned. I walked up the aisle to marry my wife in them, I’ve still got them and they still go well!

Hopefully so is your marriage!

Yes my third wife didn’t like them so well!


Sir Matthew Pinsent wears our Saunders Brogue, shop the look here


Click here for other interviews in our OS Meets series