James Cracknell has questioned whether he 'sacrificed too much time' away from his family after 'prioritising' his work over the years.
The British rower and Olympic medallist, 49, admitted he was reduced to tears when forced to write a 'final letter' to his children while taking part in TV series Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
James reveals in a new interview with The Times that the process forced him to reflect on his life and his family, following his divorce from ex-wife Beverley Turner.
Reflective: James Cracknell, 49, says being forced to write a final letter to his children made him question whether he's 'sacrificed too much time' away from his family following divorce
The professional athlete is dad to three children from his previous marriage; son Croyde, 17, and daughters Kiki, 12, and Trixie, 10. He split from their mum Beverley in 2019 after 17-years of marriage.
While competing on Celebrity SAS, the recruits were made to pen final letters to their families - the same way SAS protocol gets soldiers to write a letter home so grieving families can receive a final message from their loved ones who are killed while serving in the division.
James, who recently remarried and wed wife Jordan O'Connell, said it was one of the only times he was reduced to tears while filming for the gruelling series.
He explained that the process helped him to make many realisations about his life, as he told the publication: 'Having three kids and being divorced and not living with them... There’s things you go, like, "OK, actually, you prioritised working. Did you sacrifice too much time?" You know what I mean?
Family: The rowing champion, 49, is father to Croyde, 17, Kiki, 12, and Trixie, 10, who he shares with his ex-wife Beverley Turner (pictured)
Honest: James explained in a new interview that penning the letter made him realise he 'prioritised work' and the emotional process reduced him to tears (pictured in 2009 with son Croyde and ex-wife Beverley)
'You assume you’re going to live with them 24/7 rather than not. You asked me if I cried. Then, yes.'
James separated from ex-wife Beverley after the pair's nine-year struggle following his crippling brain injury, which Beverley had nursed the sports star back to health from.
He was left in a coma and sustained damage to the part of the brain that governs memory, personality, and speech after he was knocked off his bike
