James Cracknell

James Cracknell OBE – Former Olympic Rower, Coach & Adventurer

Since retiring from competitive rowing in 2006, James has completed many dangerous and gruelling challenges for the BBC and Discovery and has used his passion for adventure and fitness to front successful campaigns to get the nation moving.

James completed ‘The Race Across the Atlantic’ with the experience documented in the BBC show ‘Through Hell and High Water’, which was followed by a successful book about the race, titled ‘The Crossing: Conquering the Atlantic in the World’s Toughest Rowing Race’.

Only two years later, James paired up with Ben Fogle and Dr Ed Coats, to take part in the gruelling ‘Amundsen Omega3 South Pole Race’. This adventure was also broadcast on the BBC in 5x 1-hour, prime-time Sunday night programmes, titled ‘On Thin Ice’. James wrote about this experience in his book, ‘Race to the Pole’.

James has also completed the Marathon des Sables, which consisted of completing the equivalent of six marathons in six days. He also went on to complete the Yukon Arctic Ultra, cycling over 430 miles in the race across the frozen Alaskan countryside. In 2010, James attempted to cross America by cycling, running, rowing and swimming from LA to New York in record time. It was during this trip that James suffered a near fatal accident after being struck in the head from behind by a truck while cycling through Arizona. After a challenging six-month recovery, James miraculously went to the Canadian Yukon and completed The Coldest Race on Earth. These stunning adventures transmitted as Unstoppable: The James Cracknell Trilogy on Discovery.

Alongside his adventures James regularly commentates on major sporting events, including the Olympics, for both BBC and Discovery.

In 2019 James made history when he became the oldest competitor in the Boat Race, winning alongside his Cambridge teammates and went on to coach the team after their success.

James has held ambassadorial roles for brands across a wide range of industries. He’s partnered with American Express, JML as the ambassador for Nutribulizer and Awesome Gym, worked on the Dove Men + Care Father’s Day campaign and faced campaigns for Karrimor and Biosynergy. Other partners include Renault, Hydrow and HCML Rehabilitation Solutions.

James holds many charitable roles, including being the vice president of Headway and has been a longstanding patron of The Brain Injury Association and Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

James has led the Policy Exchange’s work on obesity and physical activity and has been heavily involved in their report calling for sugary drinks to be taxed as part of a series measures to combat rising levels of obesity. Following this, James appeared in The Secret Plan to Save Fat Britain: Channel 4 Dispatches.

He has a Masters in Philosophy from Cambridge University and is politically active; striving for greater awareness in childhood obesity and healthy living.

James was appointed OBE for “services to sport” in the 2005 New Year Honours List. He is the current Head Coach at Vesta Rowing Club.