DAWSON CAN WIN IN PARIS

PLYMOUTH ACE CAN HELP GB TO A BUMPER OLYMPIC HAUL

- JAMES REID

SIR Matthew Pinsent is backing Plymouth’s Jacob Dawson to help Britain’s rowers bounce back from their Tokyo turmoil and grab a bumper haul of medals in Paris next summer.

Pinsent, 53, won four Olympic gold medals in four consecutive Games between 1992 and 2004, with Team GB going on to top the sport’s medal table at the next three showpieces in Beijing, London and Rio following his retirement.

Britain’s rowers were unceremoniously knocked off their perch in the Japanese capital two years ago, failing to win a gold medal for the first time since Moscow 1980.

But after an impressive showing at the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade in September – where Great Britain won nine medals including a men’s eight gold for Dawson, 29 – Pinsent believes there will be a much-improved showing next summer.