Two Olympic gold medals and the most decorated rower alongside Redgrave and Pinsent.
James Charles Cracknell was born in Sutton, Surrey in 1972. He won two Olympic gold medals in the coxless four alongside Redgrave, Pinsent and Foster (Sydney 2000) and with a revised crew (Athens 2004). He won six World Championship titles. In August 2010 he was struck by a lorry while cycling across America for a television challenge — suffering a traumatic brain injury that changed his personality and required years of rehabilitation. He returned to competitive rowing and completed a Cambridge Blue in 2019 aged 46 — the oldest Cambridge boat race competitor. He was awarded an OBE in 2005.
Best Known For
Olympic Gold 2x (2000,2004)
Honours & Achievements
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold 2x (2000,2004)
- World Champion 6x
Career Journey
Timeline
1972
👶 Born in Sutton, Surrey
2004
🏁 Retired from professional sport
🏆 Olympic Gold 2x (2000,2004)
🏆 World Champion 6x