James Cracknell

James Cracknell is an inspirational speaker of the highest order. A former Olympic gold medallist, he was a key part of the rowing dream team alongside Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent. He showcased his talent and drive for peak performance early in his career, joining Team GB in the late 1990s. Together with this exceptional rowing team, James won six World Rowing Championships and secured two Olympic gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. His dedication and achievements in rowing led to his appointment as an OBE for services to sport in 2005.

After his Olympic success, James embarked on a series of gruelling endurance challenges, solidifying his reputation not just as an athlete but also as an adventurer. He partnered with Ben Fogle in the 2005-06 Atlantic Rowing Race, where they crossed the Atlantic in 49 days, 19 hours, and 8 minutes. Their journey was documented in the BBC Two programme Through Hell and High Water, and they later co-authored a book titled The Crossing: Conquering the Atlantic in the World's Toughest Rowing Race.

Not one to shy away from extreme challenges, James again teamed up with Ben Fogle and Ed Coats for the Amundsen Omega3 South Pole Race in 2008. The team faced blizzards, exhaustion, and frostbite, completing the 473.6-mile trek in second place. The BBC also captured this expedition in the series On Thin Ice. Further pushing his limits, James became the highest-placed Briton in the Marathon des Sables in 2010, an achievement broadcast by the Discovery Channel in The Toughest Race on Earth. He later finished second in the Yukon Arctic Ultra, a 430-mile race across the frozen Alaskan countryside, and completed the 2012 London Marathon in under three hours.

In 2018, James continued to defy expectations by enrolling at Cambridge University for an MPhil degree in human evolution. The following year, he made history by becoming the oldest rower to compete in the Boat Race, leading Cambridge to victory at the age of 46. That same year, he took on a new challenge by participating in BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. Today, James Cracknell is among the UK's most compelling motivational speakers, having previously spoken for Google and other large organisations - with Champions Speakers honoured to represent James Cracknell as an official speaker representative. His journey from Olympic champion to endurance athlete, combined with his recovery and resilience after facing blizzards, makes him an inspiration to audiences in universities, schools, and corporate events.

Watch James Cracknell in action in his recent talk, How to Make the Boat Go Faster.