Since retiring from his career, James Cracknell has distinguished himself as an inspiring athlete, sportsman and adventurer

James has two Olympic Gold Medals and six World Championship titles

Olympic champion James Cracknell will deliver the Key Note lecture at the 2015 BSAVA Congress, organisers have announced.

BSAVA is renowned for booking popular and prestigious key note speakers that engage with the audience and give them something to think about outside of veterinary medicine. Previous speakers have included Lord Robert Winston, Simon King, Monty Halls and Richard Dawkins.

One of Britain's most successful athletes of all time, James Cracknell has two Olympic Gold Medals and six World Championship titles. His epic rowing finals in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 were two of the most watched sporting contests in history. Since retiring from his career, James has distinguished himself as an inspiring athlete, sportsman and adventurer.

In 2010, James took on America - racing to cycle, run, row and swim from LA to New York in record time. During the trip, James suffered a near fatal accident after being hit by a truck while cycling through Arizona. Following a difficult six-month recovery period, the athlete went to the Canadian Yukon, completing The Coldest Race on Earth.

In addition to a whole host of other physical feats, James is vice president of 'Headway', a UK-wide charity that works to improve life after brain injury, and has been appointed to lead Policy Exchange work on obesity and physical activity.

James Cracknell's lecture will take place at 4pm on Thursday 9th April in Hall One at the ICC and will be free to anyone with a Congress Badge.

The lecture will be preceded by a welcome address from the BSAVA President Katie McConnell and the presentation of the BSAVA Awards.

Image (C) Surrey Country Council