James Cracknell Post-Olympic Career
James Cracknell has completed several demanding challenges since his retirement that have been documented both on screen and in his written accounts. James and his friend completed ‘The Race Across the Atlantic’ with the experience documented in the BBC show Through Hell and High Water; the pair also wrote a book about the race, titled The Crossing: Conquering the Atlantic in the World’s Toughest Rowing Race.
Only two years later, James Cracknell 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 five one-hour, prime-time Sunday night programmes, titled On Thin Ice. James wrote about this experience in his book, Race to the Pole.
He covered The Boat Race 2007 with another Great British Speaker Mark Durden-Smith for ITV.
Additionally, James Cracknell is the BBC’s commentator for Rowing and was heavily involved in the coverage for the Rio Olympics in 2016.
In 2010 he completed the Marathon des Sables, which consists of completing the equivalent of six marathons in six days. He then went on to complete the Yukon Arctic Ultra, cycling over 430 miles in the race across the frozen Alaskan countryside.
James Cracknell Cycling Accident
In 2010, James Cracknell attempted to cross America by cycling, running, rowing and swimming from LA to New York in record time. However, it was during this trip that he suffered a near-fatal accident after being struck from behind by a truck while cycling.
However, after just six months recovery, he went to the Canadian Yukon and completed the Coldest Race on Earth, which was documented in the Discovery series Unstoppable: The James Cracknell Trilogy.
James Cracknell Corporate Brand Ambassador
James has held ambassadorial roles for brands across a wide range of industries and clients, including American Express, Awesome Gym, Biosynergy, Dove Men + Care Father’s Day campaign, HCML Rehabilitation Services, Hydrow, JML, Karrimore, Nutriblitzer, and Renault.
James is leading 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 of measures to combat rising levels of obesity. Following this, James appeared in The Secret Plan to Save Fat Britain: Channel 4 Dispatches.
He has worked with numerous charities, including being the Vice President of Headway, and a longstanding Patron of The Brain Injury Association, and the RNLI.
He has a Masters in Philosophy from Cambridge University, and is striving for greater awareness in childhood obesity and healthy living. In 2019 James made history when he became the oldest competitor in the Boat Race, winning alongside his Cambridge teammates, and even went on to coach the team after the win. He now coaches the Vesta Rowing Club.
