Olympic great Matthew has no regrets

Matthew Pinsent today insisted he felt neither sadness nor regret as he brought the curtain down on one of the most illustrious sporting careers British sport has witnessed.

Finally giving substance to what has been the worst-kept secret in rowing these past few days, he explained at his Henley base that he simply could not endure the rigours of one more Olympic campaign in a bid to equal Sir Steve Redgrave's five golds.

"Chasing records is a bad reason for continuing, really bad," said the man who won 10 world titles and four Olympic golds.

"I know it's supposed to be a feeling of sadness that surrounds retirement but I feel anything but sad. I am so proud of what I, and we, have achieved in the last 15 years in the team and perhaps for the first time I can look back without complacency.

"You might think there was one defining moment that tilted the scales in favour of retirement but there truly was not. I also knew that the chances of Athens being my last Games were high and so it proved. I was never going to speak publicly until I was secure in my decision and today I am."

The 34-year-old admitted that he had felt completely different about the prospect of returning to the sport this time after Athens than he had after his Sydney triumph four years earlier.

He said: "Coming out of Sydney I was happy to throw myself into another four-year campaign. I knew then the chances of Athens being my last was high.

"I knew a month after Sydney I wanted to row again. After Athens it was different. I poured my soul into that race in Athens and I think my body knows it is done."

Pinsent revealed he was undecided on his next career move - but had ambitions to start a corporate rowing challenge and to play a significant role in London's 2012 Olympic bid. He has been guaranteed an influential position in the International Olympic Committee by president Jacques Rogge and is set to replace Craig Reedie as British Olympic Association chairman.

Though his retirement represents a massive loss for British rowing, Pinsent bowed out by telling his team-mates that he thought they would be successful at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. "I will be cheering from the beer tent," he said. "A little drunk and perhaps a little jealous."