James Cracknell makes history as Cambridge win Boat Race

But after last week confirming the end of his marriage to Beverley Turner, the Peterhouse College masters student pulled off an extraordinary personal achievement, that friend Ben Fogle called "the start of another chapter in his life".

Cracknell conceded more than 25 years on some of his team-mates, but belied his age to leave friends and former colleagues in awe.

"This is the start of another chapter in his life," Fogle told the BBC.

"I think James wants this to be his flag, he wants this to be the moment that people say 'James aged 46 did something most people doubted'."

Cracknell's fellow former Olympian Pinsent added: "It's extraordinary that he's got himself into the shape, at 46, of a 24-year-old.

"I only know one person who could do that, and it's James. It's just off the scale."

Cracknell's life was turned upside down when he fractured his skull in a cycling accident in Arizona nine years ago.

But the fearsome competitor refused to bow to that setback, battling back to top form and fitness.

"On the start I thought 'I've missed this'," Cracknell told the BBC in the wake of victory.

"The first few minutes were great, but they just didn't drop. To be honest the endurance wasn't a problem.

"If I had any doubt it would have been my sprinting. I just made sure I stuck it in and hopefully we had enough in the bank."

Cambridge won the Women's Boat Race for the third year in a row, beating Oxford by five lengths.

The Light Blues cemented their dominance over their traditional rivals, with new coach Robert Weber's team storming into an early lead and refusing to relent.

Cambridge stroke Lily Lindsay has rowed internationally for the USA, but insisted nothing compared to a Boat Race victory.

"There's nothing like this," Lindsay told the BBC. "Training alongside my team-mates has been unbelievable. It's been a pleasure."

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