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PERSONAL
DETAILS
Date of Birth: 05/05/72
Height:
1.93m
Weight:
98kg
PROFILE
James, together with Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and Tim
Foster, won Olympic Gold and the hearts of the nation in the
legendary coxless four in Sydney 2000. It was the culmination
of four years of determination, dedication and sacrifice that
was captured on the self-filmed BBC documentary 'Gold Fever',
which topped 6 million viewers. The lasting impact of that
race on the British public cannot be underestimated, as in
January 2002 it was voted number one in Channel Four's '100
Greatest Sporting Moments.'
Since the Olympic Games, James has moved into a coxless pair
with Matthew Pinsent and has successfully swapped from rowing
on stroke side to bow side, which is by no means an easy
task. In their first season together James and Matt embraced
the momentous challenge of competing in the coxed and coxless
pair races at the 2001 World Championships....on the same
afternoon. In front of a huge crowd in Lucerne, they snatched
both golds, achieving the one feat that had eluded Sir Steve
Redgrave. The pair successfully retained the coxless pairs
title in Seville this year, obliterating the competition with
an incredible time of 6:14.27, smashing the world record by
nearly four seconds.
But the life of one of Britain's most successful athletes is
not all stroke, stroke, stroke. When he isn't riding his
motorbike or surfing, James is busy enjoying regular TV,
radio and press appearances. His wide appeal means that he is
as likely to be found on Children's BBC as he is on a debate
for Radio 5. He has presented gongs at the BAFTAs as well as
the Disney Channel Kids Awards. The men's mags admire his
style and success, whilst he remains a firm favourite with
the women's press - last year starring as a centre-fold for
Cosmopolitan Magazine (much to the amusement of his
team-mates).
James's talent as a writer has blossomed since he joined The
Daily Telegraph as a regular columnist in 1998, and his
series of features on the experience of training with other
elite athletes has become extremely popular with rowing and
non-rowing fans alike. Never afraid to speak his mind and
possessing a vast knowledge of most sports, James is an
integral part of the British sports
media.
His outstanding sporting achievements, easy-going demeanour
and good sense of humour have made him popular on the
motivational speaking/after-dinner
circuit.
An ex-teacher and a masters graduate, James is also the
youngest ever Captain of England's oldest rowing club
Leander, where he has taken great steps to break down the
traditional barriers to rowing, and build a young, vibrant
club which is achieving its best ever results in all age
groups.
2002 has been the usual combination of gruelling training and
exhilarating competition, culminating in the World
Championships in Seville in September, where James and Matt
won gold in the coxless pairs, setting a new World Record.
Now it's all sights on the Athens Olympics in 2004, where
James and Matt will be arguably Britain's best gold medal
hope.
CAREER
HISTORY
2002 World Championships, Coxless
Pair - GOLD (World Record)
Henley
Royal Regatta, Coxless pair - Winners Henley Royal
Regatta, Coxed pair - Winners
2001 World Championships, Coxless
pair - GOLD
World
Championships, Coxed pair - GOLD
Winner
of the FISA World Cup, Coxless pair
2000 Olympic Games, Coxless four -
GOLD
Winner
of the FISA World Cup Coxless four
1999 World Championships, Coxless
four - GOLD
Winner
of the FISA World Cup Coxless four
1998 World Championships, Coxless
four - GOLD
1997 World Championships, Coxless
four -GOLD
Winner
of the FISA World Cup Coxless four
1993 World Student Games, eight -
SILVER
1990 World Junior Rowing
Championships, Junior Coxless Four - GOLD |
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MG Rover Group Ltd 2004. [RECREATED BY THE RED ROVER].