James
Cracknell MBE
World
& Olympic Champion
A member of the triumphant
coxless four crew at the Sydney Olympics, James established a new
pairing with Matthew Pinsent. They have since become double world
champions and set a new world record.
James began rowing at
Kingston Grammar School and made his international debut in 1989 in
the coxed pair which finished tenth at the Junior World Championships.
The following year he gave notice of talent to come when he won gold
in the Junior coxless four.
In 1991, James won a place
in the senior team and went to the World Championships in the coxless
four which finished seventh. He was selected in the British student
eight that went to the 1993 World Student Games. They won the silver
medal and formed the basis for the senior eight that went on to the
World Championships in Prague and finished sixth. In 1994 he stroked
the British eight at the Worlds and finished in eighth place.
James decided to switch
from sweep rowing to sculling in 1995 and gained selection in the
double scull which finished tenth at the World Championships in Finland,
thus securing a coveted pre-qualified place for the Atlanta Olympics.
In spite of a slightly unsettled build-up, the double were looking
forward to the Olympics but disaster struck on their arrival in Atlanta
when James was brought down by a virus which put him out of the boat.
After such a catastrophe, it is a testament to James’ will to
succeed that he was able to pick himself up and prove himself as a
vital member of the coxless four in 1997 and to drive that point home
every year since.
James is a qualified Geography
teacher, and is currently studying part-time, for a Msc. in Sports
Science.
Charitable activity
From 27 February 2008 James Cracknell covered over 1,400 miles from the UK to Africa in 10 days, rowing, cycling and swimming. He rowed from Dover, England to Cap Gris Nez, France, then cycled to Taifa, Spain, and finally swam across the straight of Gibraltar from Tarifa to Punta Cires, Morocco. He asked the comedian David Walliams to join him for the final part of his journey because of his previous experience in swimming the English Channel.[2] The money raised by the challenge goes towards the BBC's Sport Relief charity, the highlights of the action were broadcast on March 14th 2008.
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