THE experience and inspiration of Matthew Pinsent will be used by British rowing to help to develop youngsters capable of continuing the Olympic successes of the past 20 years. Pinsent plans to explore a variety of projects, including promoting London’s bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, and will also be benefactor of the inaugural rowing testimonial.

David Tanner, the sport’s national performance director, said yesterday: “Matthew is very good with youngsters. Plans have yet to be drawn up, but clearly Matthew can help to motivate prospective Olympians in the same way that his long-time partner, Sir Steve Redgrave, has been doing since his retirement four years ago.”

This is scarcely surprising, because Pinsent and Tanner both stated their belief that rowing is “the ultimate team sport”. Tanner, who has been Britain team manager since 1991, the year of Pinsent’s first senior World Championships victory, paid tribute to the oarsman. “I could not have asked for a better star in our team,” he said.

Tanner also praised Pinsent for his consistent ability to win “time and time again”. From 1991 to 2002, he won a gold medal every year in either the Olympics or World Championships. Coupled with the success of Redgrave, the pair have transformed attitudes in British rowing.

Tanner said: “There is now a confidence that we can win from our system. That is a very important thing for British sport. It gives us that benchmark.”

Details of the testimonial have yet to be finalised, but the Amateur Rowing Association is determined to reward Pinsent for being an outstanding ambassador. A committee, including Jeremy Randall, the former chairman of Leander Club, and Redgrave, will organise a series of events.

Jürgen Grobler, whose coaching has contributed so enormously in recent years, said yesterday of Pinsent: “Of course, we will miss him. He is a hero in Britain and outstanding in our sport; just like Steve Redgrave.”