JAMES CRACKNELL OBE, MSc
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL ROWING
DOUBLE OLYMPIC CHAMPION & WORLD RECORD HOLDER
PERSONAL DETAILS
Date of Birth: 05/05/72
Height: 1:93m
Weight: 98kg
Winning Gold in Athens in one of the most heart stopping races in Olympic history confirmed James Cracknell as one of the most successful and inspiring athletes of the modern era. A double Olympic Champion, and World Record holder, James is one of Britain's true sporting heroes.
James won his first Olympic Gold and the hearts of the nation in the legendary coxless four in Sydney 2000, together with Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and Tim Foster. After four years of intense training and determination, James repeated this incredible performance in Athens, winning his second Olympic Gold medal in a nail biting final with Matthew Pinsent, Steve Williams and Ed Coode.
James has also had phenomenal success in the coxless pairs, forming a partnership with Matthew Pinsent after the Sydney Olympics. In their first season together they embraced the momentous challenge of competing in the coxed and coxless pair races at the 2001 World Championships in the same afternoon. In front of a huge crowd in Lucerne, they snatched both Golds, achieving the one feat that had eluded Sir Steve Redgrave.
To go one better in the 2002 World Championships in Seville, the pair successfully retained the coxless pairs title, obliterating the competition with an incredible time of 6:14.27 and smashing the world record by nearly four seconds.
In preparation for the 2004 Olympics, James and Matthew switched back into the coxless four with Steve Williams and ultimately Ed Coode who replaced the unfortunate Alex Partridge after the latter suffered a punctured lung just a month before the Games. But not even a late replacement could deter the team from clinching Gold - and the nation's hearts once again.
In recognition of his achievements and character, James was the youngest ever Captain of England's oldest rowing club Leander, where he took great steps to break down the traditional barriers to rowing, and build a young, vibrant club which is achieving its best ever results in all age groups.
James is currently taking a year out from rowing to allow him time to focus on his ever growing media commitments however, in the manner of a true Olympian, he continues to set himself new challenges. Later this year he hopes to run the New York Marathon and complete a triathlon.
| 2004 | Olympic Games, Coxless Four - GOLD |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Henley Royal Regatta, Coxless Pair - Winners Henley Royal Regatta, Coxed Fours - Winners |
| 2002 | World Championships, Coxless Pair - GOLD (World Record) Henley Royal Regatta, Coxless Pair - Winners Henley Royal Regatta, Coxed Pair - Winners |
| 2001 | World Championships, Coxless Pair - GOLD World Championships, Coxed Pair - GOLD Winner of the FISA World Cup, Coxless Pair |
| 2000 | Olympic Games, Coxless Four - GOLD Winner of the FISA World Cup Coxless Four |
| 1999 | World Championships, Coxless Four - GOLD Winner of the FISA World Cup Coxless Four |
| 1998 | World Championships, Coxless Four - GOLD |
| 1997 | World Championships, Coxless Four - GOLD Winner of the FISA World Cup Coxless Four |
| 1993 | World Student Games, Eight - SILVER |
| 1990 | World Junior Rowing Championships, Junior Coxless Four - GOLD |
