James Cracknell's Biography

James Cracknell was born on 5 May 1972 in Sutton. He started rowing at Kingston Grammar School.

In 1990 he won gold in the coxless fours at the World Junior Championships.

James Cracknell went on to win two Olympic Gold Medals and six World Championship titles.

After leaving competitive rowing, Cracknell went on to perform a number of feats of endurance.

It was whilst performing one of these in 2010 in Arizona that Cracknell was hit by a truck. He suffered brain damage and nearly died.

It didn't stop James Cracknell from undertaking further adventures, many of them broadcast on Discovery.

Some of his feats including those with Ben Fogle were broadcast by the BBC.

In 2018, James Cracknell was studying for an MPhil in Human Evolution at Peterhouse, Cambridge University and he become the oldest rower to take part in the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race.

In 2019, Cracknell and his wife of 17 years Beverley got divorced.

Later that year, he became one of the contestants on Strictly Come Dancing.

He was paired with Luba Mushtuk. They were the first couple to be voted off.

Trivia
James Cracknell is a qualified geography teacher.

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