Author:James Cracknell,Beverley Turner
Double Olympic gold-medal winner, James Cracknell. His story before and after his life-changing accident.
In October 2011 James Cracknell, two-time Olympic gold-medal rower and one of the greatest endurance athletes the world has ever known, suffered a seizure at home as his young son looked on in horror. A man who had known no limits, a man who had practically achieved the impossible, was now struggling to master life's simple challenges.
A year earlier, as James undertook yet another endurance challenge in Arizona, he was knocked off his bike by the wing mirror of a petrol tanker. It had smashed into the back of his head at high speed, causing severe frontal lobe damage. The doctors weren’t sure if he would recover and, if he did, whether he would ever be the same again.
Touching Distance is an extraordinary, honest and powerful account as James and his wife Bev confront for the first time the lasting effects that the accident has had on their lives. It is the story of a marriage, of a family and of one man's fight back to be the best husband and father he can be.
An inspirational, powerful account from an incredible bloke with guts and determination.
—— Sir Bradley WigginsJames is a modern-day Hercules. Every day brings a new challenge.
—— Clare BaldingA remarkable portrait of love, loyalty and determination - from both sides of a marriage.
—— Daily MailA rower's extraordinary story is movingly told.
—— Daily TelegraphIt is a deeply honest, compelling account.
—— SunThe couple write with an unflinching candour that is, by turn, comic and deeply moving.
—— Hello!Unrivalled insight and captivating analysis... James has peerless knowledge of Fletcher and Flower - he argues his view brilliantly
—— www.cricketweb.netI commend to you The Nowhere Men by Michael Calvin – brilliant book, great journalism
—— Ian Herbert , The IndependentA hugely insightful read
—— FourFourTwo MagazineTop sports writer Michael Calvin lifts the lid on the talent scouts
—— Sunday ExpressIt's superb, one of the best of the year. One of those books where you learn something every couple of pages.
—— Iain Macintosh , co-author of Football Manager Stole My LifeA must-read for all soccer fans
—— ChoiceLucidly researched
—— David Miller , The OldieThe unlikely true story of two US ex-pros who travelled to Rwanda with visions of creating Africa’s first world-beating professional cycling team
—— Simon Usborne , IndependentThis book is an entertaining account taking in everyone from stage winners and former yellow jerseys who couldn’t hang on, to a breakaway leader who stopped for a bottle of wine and then took a wrong turn, to a doper whose drug cocktail backfired
—— Bike RadarWe know the winners of the Tour de France, but Lanterne Rouge tells the forgotten, often inspirational and occasionally absurd stories of the last-placed rider
—— Miss Dinky