James Cracknell’s wife Beverley Turner watched him row into the record books on TV at home with their three children despite split after 17 years of marriage and his near-fatal brain injury

• At 46, the Olympian became the oldest ever winner of the Boat Race
• He celebrated his win with former rowing partner Sir Matthew Pinsent
• Days earlier, he announced a split with his wife Beverley but she still cheered on 

He broke off preparations for the Boat Race to announce his split from the wife who nursed him back to health after a near fatal brain injury.

Despite the failure of his 17-year marriage, however, James Cracknell was still supported by Beverley Turner yesterday as he rowed into the history books.

At 46, the Olympian became the oldest winner in the 190-year history of the event as Cambridge defeated Oxford.

At 46, James Cracknell has become the oldest winner of the Boat Race in its 190-year history

The rower announced his split with his wife Beverley Turner, 45, during his training for the historic race

TV presenter Miss Turner, who watched on TV at home with the couple’s three children, described her elation at the achievement and hinted at her own role in it.

She tweeted: ‘Behind every great man an’ all that. Fantastic performance from James Cracknell and Cambridge University. Congratulations on a hard won victory.’

Earlier the 45-year-old had described her nervousness before Cracknell’s comeback race 13 years after retiring from the sport, and had tweeted: ‘Come on Crackers!’

After his team’s victory Cracknell, who is studying for a Master’s in human evolution at Cambridge, said he wanted to refocus his attention on his and Miss Turner’s three children – son Croyde, 15, and daughters Kiki, ten, and eight-year-old Trixie.

‘I’ll be celebrating now with these guys [his fellow rowers] and then I’ve got three more important people in my life that I want to make sure I’m there for,’ he said.

Talking about the race, he said: ‘It’s a really special event, to do it with these guys, some of whom are 19. It was a whole different load of pressure and for these guys doing it around studying and student life, it’s a great achievement.’ 

Cracknell, who is studying for a Master’s in human evolution at Cambridge, celebrated his victory with his mother Jennie

BBC presenter and former teammate Sir Matthew Pinsent embraced Cracknell after Cambridge raced to victory

The 6ft 4in rower, who became the oldest competitor in the event by eight years, described the achievement as a ‘dream come true’.

His victory was watched from the banks of the Thames by his mother Jennie, whom he embraced during the celebrations. As he swigged a beer, she said: ‘I never enjoy watching him race, my heart goes. But I can celebrate with him now it’s over.’

Cracknell also hugged his former rowing partner and fellow Olympic gold medal winner Sir Matthew Pinsent, who was reporting on the event for the BBC.

Before returning to life as a student and father, Cracknell was expected to join the teammates who call him ‘Uncle James’ at the Mahiki nightclub in Mayfair. 

Beverley tweeted her congratulations to the rower after his history-making performance with the Cambridge team

The 6ft 4in rower, who became the oldest competitor in the event by eight years, described the achievement as a ‘dream come true’

Both Cracknell and Miss Turner have discussed the immense strain placed on their relationship when he was hit by the wing-mirror of a petrol tanker while he was cycling in Arizona in 2010.

It caused his brain to slam forward, crushing the frontal lobes – the part that controls personality. In the aftermath, his usual ‘laid-back’ attitude gave way to aggressive and irritable moods.

The couple released a joint autobiography in which she revealed he tried to throttle her during an argument when she was pregnant with their third child.

Cracknell won gold in the coxless fours at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and the Athens Games four years later. He retired in 2006.

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