James Cracknell talks to the Daily Mail

An interview with Nicole Lampert

“James will never be the person he once was but he wants people to know he’s doing OK. That’s why, after years of turning down reality shows, he’s popped up on ITV’s latest celebrity challenge Eternal Glory, which pits sports legends (including Olympic runner Liz McColgan and footballer Matt Le Tissier) against each other in specially created physical and mental challenges. One is evicted at the end of each episode.

‘It’s a way of showing who I am now. As it was a sporting environment it was something I was vaguely comfortable in, the timing was right and it was good being with like-minded people. I quickly realised there were some things I was never going to be good at and some things I should be good at and I was very competitive at those. I have no co-ordination but anything that required big lungs, I wanted to win at.’

We meet at the launch of the new enterprise he’s part of, Fitter Stronger, a luxury retreat at Chewton Glen on the south coast where people can find out about exercise, which James believes has been key to his recovery. ‘You can write down your exercise programme and see your progression. You can see yourself getting better in one area and it gives you confidence to get better in other areas.’ He sits back and smiles, relaxed as he talks about the one thing that hasn’t changed. ‘I don’t think that competitive spirit will ever go away.’

Eternal Glory, Tuesday, 8pm, ITV. Visit fitterstronger.org.”

Read the entire article here: dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3266577/How-saving-s-life-changed-James-Cracknell-son-rescued-drowning-boy