Ewen Macpherson Pinsent (1930–2020),[2] curate of St Andrew's parish church, Kelso, Scottish Borders, and his mother, Jean Grizel, came from a distinguished military family.

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

In 1990, while still at Oxford, he joined Steve Redgrave in the coxless pair at the World Rowing Championships, winning bronze.

This followed the coxless four team in the years leading up to the Olympics, including video diaries recording the highs and lows in the quest for what would be Pinsent's third consecutive gold.

He 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.

[8] The 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m), 17 stone (110 kg)[9] Pinsent had at one time the largest lung capacity recorded for a sportsman at 8.5 litres.

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

[24][25] In 2020 Pinsent appeared as a contestant on Series 15 of BBC Television's Celebrity Masterchef, finishing in joint-second place.