ACTION man James Cracknell is a former geography teacher and all-round adventurer who has far more than Olympic rowing to his bow.
Aged 46, the London-born athlete won the World Rowing Championships in 1997, 1998 and 1999 in the men's coxless fours before enjoying Olympic glory.
BBC viewers can enjoy his commentary and analysis during the forthcoming European Championships.
Meanwhile, enjoy SunSport's lowdown on a man whose life has been the epitomy of a blood, sweat and tears hero.
Cracknell won gold at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.
Steve Redgrave, Tim Foster, James Cracknell and Matthew Pinsent after winning the gold medal in the men's coxless fours final at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney
In 2006, together with Ben Fogle, Cracknell rowed the Atlantic in 49 days, 19 hours and 8 minutes.
The pair wrote a book, 'The Crossing: Conquering the Atlantic in the World's Toughest Rowing Race,' and featured in the BBC Two film "Through Hell and High Water".
The same year Cracknell ran the London Marathon in a time of three hours, finishing over an hour ahead of his rowing team mate Matthew Pinsent.
Cracknell and Ben Fogle prepare to row across the Atlantic in 2008
Well, in 2008 he set off with Fogle and Dr Ed Coats in the inaugural Amundsen Omega3 South Pole Race.
The team crossed the 473.6 miles suffering frostbite, infected blisters, dramatic weight-loss, pneumonia and exhaustion and came second only to a pair of Norwegians.
Later that year Cracknell competed in the European Triathlon Championships for GBR for his age group.
In 2009 he took part in the New York Marathon and completed the 125-mile non-stop Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon in a two-man racing K2 kayak with Bernie Shosbree.
No way. In 2009 Cracknell attempted to break the non-stop Land's End to John O'Groats mixed tandem world record along with Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Romero.
They got just past Johnstone Bridge in Scotland and were on course to break the record by over three hours before being forced to stop due to problems with Romero's knees.
The following year Cracknell became the highest placed Briton ever in the 25-year history of the Marathon des Sables, finishing 12th.
In July 2010 Cracknell was hit from behind in Arizona by a petrol tanker whilst cycling during an attempt to cycle, row, run and swim from Los Angeles to New York within 18 days.
His cycle helmet was "shorn in two" and he suffered a contrecoup injury to the frontal lobes of his brain. His recovery may never be complete.
In 2012 Cracknell and his wife, TV and radio presenter Beverley Turner, wrote "Touching Distance" about his life before and after his brain injury, which has left him with epilepsy and a changed personality – including a short temper.
'La Enigmatica' left in convulsing fit after being brutally hit in head with metal chair by elderly rival
He is about to begin a masters degree in philosophy at Cambridge University.
Yes. He could join the university rowing squad for the annual race against Oxford.
Were Cracknell to row against Oxford in April 2019 he would become the oldest man to compete in the race.
The record holder is currently Mike Wherley, who rowed for Oxford in 2008 at the age of 36.
