Backstage video interview with James Cracknell

Uploaded by Entrepreneurs' Forum
Double gold Olympic medallist James Cracknell closed the Entrepreneurs' Forum's Eighth Annual Conference and he spoke candidly in public for the first time about the accident that nearly killed him in an inspirational presentation at the Entrepreneurs’ Forum conference.

Still in recovery from a serious brain injury he suffered after being knocked off his bike on a cycling challenge across America, he spoke about his determination not to limit his life.

“It’s been hard to get to grips with how long it’s going to take to get back to normal. A lot of people impose glass ceilings on the things you should and should not expect to be able to do again. What I do or don’t do will be my choice. I don’t want to be limited by what other people tell me.

“Mental resilience is sport is one thing, but this has been far harder.”

The intrepid adventurer drew parallels between business and sport as he shared his views on dealing with challenges and operating as a member of a team, both as an Olympic sportsman and in the other challenges he has under taken, from rowing across the Atlantic to trekking to the South Pole.

“The confidence you get from planning to get somewhere and achieving it you can apply to other things. The Olympics is something I did rather than who I am,” he said.

James also spoke about the absolute requirement for honesty among himself and his Olympic teammates and taking personal responsibility for your role within the team.

“Your dreams are in someone else’s hands and their dreams are in yours. You have got to be sure you want to open yourself up to that.

“You don’t want someone in your team who doesn’t front up to a problem and ask for help.”

He spoke about the difference between competitors and completers and how success came out of ensuring your worst performance is better than everyone else’s best.

He admitted he would be a better Olympic teammate now. “I was very challenging and demanding of people all the time, whereas now I think it’s better to give people a chance to prove themselves.”