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Birthday: 05/05/72 Nickname: 'Crackers' Where born: Sutton, Surrey Hometown: Woking, Surrey Secondary school: Kingston Grammar University: Reading, Brunel for Msc Height: 1:93m (6'4") Weight: 100kg (16 stone) Distinguishing marks: Earring in left ear, tattoo on right ankle Current address: Henley-on-Thames Boat Club: Leander Club Qualifications: Qualified Geography teacher, Msc in Sports science. He is also going to law school - the eternal student! First job: Hospital porter Car: Vauxhall Vectra Motorbike: Yamaha R1 |
Favourite band: Red Hot Chilli Peppers Favourite book: The Beach Favourite TV programme: Match of the day Favourite film: Lock, Stock.. Favourite colour: Black Favourite food: Tuna with pasta and tomato ketchup Favourite drinks: Red Stripe, Red Bull Sponsored by: Lombard and Puma (well he seems to be anyway!) Scariest moments: Parachute jump, falling off his motorbike Injuries: He broke his shoulder playing rugby Football team he supports: Wimbledon. Doesn't like Man United. Sports played: Football, hockey, swimming, and rugby Non-Sporting hero: Nelson Mandela Likes: Surfing, riding his motorbike Dislikes: Arrogance, sports that are judged, stereotypical view of rowing eg. public think that it's just about Oxbridge boat race and Henley regatta |
Rowing Background
At 14, James was described as a future olympic champion by his school headmaster. 14 years on, he was proven correct when the GB coxless four became gold medallists at Sydney 2000.
James began rowing at Secondary School and made his first international competition was in a coxed pair in 1989 at the Junior World Championships.He finished 10th, but in 1990 James won a gold medal in a coxless four.
In 1991 James advanced to the senior team and finished seventh in the coxless four at the World Championships. He was also selected to be part of the eight at the 1993 World Student Games. They won the silver medal and most of the crew competed in the senior eight that finished sixth in the World Championships in Prague.
James decided to change to sculling in 1995 and went to Atlanta as part of a double scull crew in '96, but he got tonsilitis so he couldn't compete. James won the 1998 British 2000m Ergo time trial, beating Matt Pinsent and Steve Redgrave. He was picked to be part of the present GB coxless four in 1997 and is the youngest member of the crew, and won all bar two of his races in the M4-.
More recent acheivements include becoming the captain of Leander club, pulling the fastest splits in the Leander club v Royce's gym 100,000 metre relay race for comic relief, and winning the coxless pair national trials with Matthew Pinsent.
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