Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Latest NewsHR practicePersonnel TodayLearning & developmentThe HR profession

Transatlantic Olympic gold-medal rower James Cracknell reveals hidden depths explaining importance of mental strength to Personnel Today HR Directors Club briefing

by Karen Dempsey 17 Nov 2006
by Karen Dempsey 17 Nov 2006

Rowing across the Atlantic pushed Olympic gold medal-winning rower James Cracknell to draw on reserves of mental strength he never even knew he had.

Addressing Personnel Today’s HR Directors Club breakfast briefing in Birmingham, Cracknell – who won gold with the coxless four in the Sydney and Athens Olympics – said that surviving the 50-day Atlantic ordeal “came down to mental strength that I didn’t tap into as a sportsman”.

Cracknell took part in the Atlantic Rowing Race with TV presenter Ben Fogle at the end of last year. Their trip was beset with problems: they ran out of food, their boat capsized, and the chafing from their clothes left their bottoms sore and spotty after rowing in two-hour shifts, 24 hours a day.

“The body may have been weak, but the mind never gave up. Your mind and body can take so much more than you think,” said Cracknell.

When preparing for the Olympics, coach Jurgen Grobler made the crew think about the pain of losing as an incentive to keep them going. “When you get to the pain in the middle of a race, it hurts. But it’ll hurt more over the next few years when you look back and know that you didn’t win,” added Cracknell.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The HR Directors Club is sponsored by Arinso, GMAC Global Relocation Services, Hammonds and XpertHR.

 

Karen Dempsey

previous post
PCS union warns reference to public service reform in Queen’s speech must not signify job cuts
next post
Unions set up talks with TVR in last ditch bid to save UK jobs

You may also like

Government publishes ‘roadmap’ for Employment Rights Bill

1 Jul 2025

Ethnicity and disability pay gaps: Ready to report?...

1 Jul 2025

Government moves swiftly on immigration reform

1 Jul 2025

One in eight senior NHS managers from black...

1 Jul 2025

Government launches ‘landmark’ review of parental leave

1 Jul 2025

Clarks cuts 1,200 jobs after ‘year of transition’

1 Jul 2025

How HR can support families with adoption

1 Jul 2025

Co-op equal pay claims move onto next stage

30 Jun 2025

‘Be direct’ to avoid escalating conflict, advises Acas

30 Jun 2025

Reforming paternity leave could benefit UK by £13bn...

30 Jun 2025

  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today