Former Olympic gold medallist Sir Matthew Pinsent has waded into the controversial debate surrounding the new team GB Olympic kits.
The new uniforms have sparked controversy amidst ongoing debate surrounding the changed colours of the Euro 2024 football shirt, with the addition of pinks and purples attracting offence.
Between 1992 and 2003, the rower-turned-broadcaster clinched four consecutive Olympic medals alongside legendary partner Sir Steve Redgrave.
Pinsent was quick to jump to the defence of the new uniforms and reminded the public of how reimaginings of the Team GB kit have been a regular occurrence throughout history.
He said on X: “Team GB only started as an entity in the 90s. Redgrave 84 wore a different kit to Redgrave 92, to Mary Peters 73 and it was different again to Liddle 24.
“The idea of one standard kit design is nonsense.”
You only have to cast your eyes back to the London 2012 games to see the traditional colours of the flag changed.
A dispute surrounding the flag has emerged as a central topic in political discourse since the release of Euro 2024 shirts, with both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer commenting on the colour scheme.
Pinsent tweeted again two prior stating: “The BOA and Team GB have been fantastically free of government input for generations. Much to their credit.
“You have as much input into their kit, uniform, insignia, flag and blazer as who sits in the two seats of the women’s four in the rowing team. It’s like that deliberately.”
Team GB athletes will wear the Union Flag as normal in the summer, with kit designs for the summer not yet released.
The Olympics kick off on July 26 in Paris.
WikiCommons Feature image: Katie Chan
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