James Rudkin
Rower - Men's Squad
Date of Birth: 7th Jul 1994 (28 years old)
Club: Newcastle University BC
Height: 198cm
Hometown: Litchborough
Intro
Olympic bronze medallist James Rudkin is also reigning European Champion in the men’s eight (M8+).
James was first selected for his country in 2010 when he was the spare for the GB v France match, and then raced in the M4x at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2011. The following year he finished 12th in the JM4x at the World Rowing Junior Championships. He went on to row for the U23 team from 2014-2016 – his best result was a fine silver medal in the BM4- in 2016.
On stepping up to the senior GB Rowing Team, James rapidly became a fixture in the men’s eight (M8+), winning gold at his first World Championships in 2017, followed by bronze medals in 2018 and 2019. He and the crew also took bronze at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
His European Rowing Championships record so far is a silver in 2019 followed by gold medals in 2021 and 2022.
Rowing runs in James’ family; his dad enjoyed a successful rowing career and taught James to row at their local club Hollowell Scullers in Northamptonshire.
He attended Stowe School in Buckinghamshire on a sports scholarship and attained junior honours, before going on to to study at Newcastle University to study History and Politics, followed by a Masters in History. James was men’s captain in 2015, having attained U23 representation and domestic success. He represented Newcastle at senior level and learned to sweep under the tutelage of the Head Coach Angelo Savarino.
On The Water
GB Competitive Record
| Year | Event | Position | Boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | World Rowing Championships Linz Ottensheim, AUT |
M8+ | |
| 2019 | World Rowing Cup III Rotterdam, NED |
M8+ | |
| 2019 | World Rowing Cup II Poznan, POL |
M8+ | |
| 2019 | European Rowing Championships Lucerne, SUI |
M8+ | |
| 2018 | World Rowing Championships Plovdiv, BUL |
M8+ | |
| 2018 | European Rowing Championships Glasgow, GBR |
5 | M8+ |
| 2018 | World Rowing Cup II Linz Ottensheim, AUT |
1 (FD Final) | M2- |
| 2018 | World Rowing Cup I Belgrade, SRB |
M8+ | |
| 2017 | World Rowing Championships Sarasota-Bradenton, USA |
1 (FB Final) | M8+ |
| 2017 | World Rowing Cup III Lucerne, SUI |
6 | M8+ |
| 2017 | World Rowing Cup II Poznan, POL |
M8+ | |
| 2017 | European Rowing Championships Racice, CZE |
5 | M8+ |
| 2017 | World Rowing Cup I Belgrade, SRB |
M8+ | |
| 2016 | World Rowing Under 23 Championships Rotterdam, NED |
BM4- | |
| 2015 | World Rowing Under 23 Championships Plovdiv, BUL |
4 | BM2- |
| 2014 | World Rowing U23 Championships Varese, ITA |
5 | BM4- |
| 2012 | World Rowing Championships Plovdiv, BUL |
6 (FB Final) | JM4x |
- Year:
- 2019
- Event:
- World Rowing Championships
Linz Ottensheim, AUT - Position:
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2019
- Event:
- World Rowing Cup III
Rotterdam, NED - Position:
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2019
- Event:
- World Rowing Cup II
Poznan, POL - Position:
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2019
- Event:
- European Rowing Championships
Lucerne, SUI - Position:
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2018
- Event:
- World Rowing Championships
Plovdiv, BUL - Position:
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2018
- Event:
- European Rowing Championships
Glasgow, GBR - Position:
- 5
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2018
- Event:
- World Rowing Cup II
Linz Ottensheim, AUT - Position:
- 1 (FD Final)
- Boat:
- M2-
- Year:
- 2018
- Event:
- World Rowing Cup I
Belgrade, SRB - Position:
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2017
- Event:
- World Rowing Championships
Sarasota-Bradenton, USA - Position:
- 1 (FB Final)
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2017
- Event:
- World Rowing Cup III
Lucerne, SUI - Position:
- 6
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2017
- Event:
- World Rowing Cup II
Poznan, POL - Position:
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2017
- Event:
- European Rowing Championships
Racice, CZE - Position:
- 5
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2017
- Event:
- World Rowing Cup I
Belgrade, SRB - Position:
- Boat:
- M8+
- Year:
- 2016
- Event:
- World Rowing Under 23 Championships
Rotterdam, NED - Position:
- Boat:
- BM4-
- Year:
- 2015
- Event:
- World Rowing Under 23 Championships
Plovdiv, BUL - Position:
- 4
- Boat:
- BM2-
- Year:
- 2014
- Event:
- World Rowing U23 Championships
Varese, ITA - Position:
- 5
- Boat:
- BM4-
- Year:
- 2012
- Event:
- World Rowing Championships
Plovdiv, BUL - Position:
- 6 (FB Final)
- Boat:
- JM4x
Beyond The Boat
James likes to relax after training by watching TV – House of Cards in particular. Haribo, tortellini and salami would save him if stranded on a desert island, and Stephen Fry, David Mitchell and John Cleese are his three ideal dinner party guests.
James is Lottery funded through UK Sport.