A British Olympic rowing star is recovering from head injuries suffered when he was struck from behind by a truck while bicycling across Arizona for a Discovery Channel film documentary.
James Cracknell and a crew, including his wife, were filming his cross-country challenge when the collision occurred on Tuesday between Flagstaff and Winslow on Interstate 40.
He was last reported to be concious and making a good recovery in a hospital in Winslow, although his cross-country adventure has been suspended.
Gold medalist
Cracknell won gold medals in rowing competitions at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. He's now an adventurer for British TV.
His latest scheme involved crossing the U.S. by running, bicycling, rowing and running.
According to a description of his journey published at his website, he was going to bicycle from Santa Monica to the Death Valley then run across the desert for 80 miles.
Next he would remount his bicycle and ride along the old Route 66 corridor for some 2,500 miles, then row the Great Lakes, then ride from Buffalo to New York City, then swim to the Statue of Liberty.
Short run
US marathoner Pam Reed was to run along with Cracknell through Death Valley. In a description of this segment published in the Arizona Daily Star:
Finally, at 5:55, Cracknell emerged from his RV and ran a mile. Then he walked a mile. Then he quit, about 78 miles shy of his planned finish.
“I'm not being critical of James,” says Reed. “But he would've never made it through Death Valley.”
The 38-year-old adventurer was aiming to complete the challenge in about 18 days. In addition to filming his travels, he was raising money for the British Legion and British Olympic Association.
Discovery Channel said Cracknell is in stable condition.
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