After Dinner Speakers: James Cracknell, Celine Dion, Richard Holmes

James started rowing at Kingston Grammar School aged 14, having tried and enjoyed other sports it was the appeal of the water that drew him to rowing, the competitiveness and total teamwork of the sport ensured he committed to it. He won gold at the 1990 Junior World Championships in the coxless fours, a boat type that would have so much importance in his rowing career ten years later at the Sydney Olympics. The road to gold at the 2000 Games was not a smooth one, with both injury, illness and as James will testify stupid decisions hampering his progress. After school James studied Geography at The University of Reading whilst rowing at Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames. James made the senior national team straight from school but it was not until a few years later that he made his mark. Struck down with tonsillitis the day before competing in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and kept away from the rest of the British team so as not to infect them he lay in a room within earshot of the Olympic Swimming pool, hearing the US National Anthem for most of the next four days made him realise what he wanted to achieve in Sydney - and it wouldn't be standing on the podium listening to the Star Spangled Banner. The next season James made the British coxless four along with Olympic legends Steve Redgrave and Matt Pinsent fresh from their gold medal in Atlanta and Tim Foster who won a bronze at the same games. The next four years saw success at the 1997/8/9 World Championships and was topped off with a Gold Medal at the Sydney Olympics. Millions of people watched the race many because of the documentary all four of the crew filmed in the years leading up the Olympics which showed both the pressure they were under, the injuries they had to overcome and gave an insight into to what people are prepared to do for an Olympic gold medal. After Sydney James decided to carry on until the 2004 Athens Games and teamed up in a coxless pair with Matt Pinsent. Their partnership clicked winning the World Championships in 2001 and 2002 breaking the World Record in the latter. Their quest for gold in Athens continues. Away from the water James enjoys surfing, riding his motorbike and live music. He writes for the Daily Telegraph on rowing and articles where he trains with other athletes. James married the ITV Television Presenter Beverley Turner last October and the couple are expecting their first baby later this year - although he/she maybe given a golf club or tennis racket rather than an oar as it seems to make more financial sense.