James Cracknell and wife Beverly ‘tried everything to hold marriage together’ before split as he admits ‘struggle’ after brain injury
The long-time couple confirmed they had split in a statement last week
JAMES Cracknell said he "tried everything to his marriage together" before his split from wife Beverly.
The Olympic rowing champion, 46, confirmed he had broken-up from his TV presenter spouse last week after 17 years.
Appearing on BBC Sounds on BBC Radio 5 Live, James admitted they "struggled" after his traumatic brain injury nine years ago.
He said: "We're also, as any couple is, different people from who you were 17 years ago and we can look back and say we did everything."
James added that the pair hadn't ended on bad terms and are still very much focused on raising their three children, son Croyde, 14, and two daughters Kili, 10, and eight-year-old Trixie.
The athlete said their kids are still "the most important thing", adding: "It's never a good time for either Bev or I, or the kids.
"Hopefully in the long run it will all be alright."
James sustained a serious brain injury in 2010 when he was hit by a lorry's wing mirror during an endurance cycle in America.
And the sports star confessed that the accident had inevitably impacted their relationship.
He said: "It's not like the accident was last year, it was nine years ago but I guess there's an element of if you're the partner you always judge your other half through the prism of what has happened."
Beverly nursed him after the accident and he credits her with his extraordinary recovery.
He confessed: "What is really important is for your partner and friends and family to be really honest with you.
"Their support comes from an unconditional place of love and trust.
"I found I was getting a lot of sympathy but you need someone to tell you straight and that's a large part of why I recovered as well as I did and exceed what a lot of neurologists expected."
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James has also spent the past eight months living away from home as a mature student at Cambridge University.
He is studying for a MPhil in human evolutionary studies and training for the Boat Race.
The couple confirmed their split in a statement, saying: 'We can confirm that sadly we separated last year.
'Together, we remain committed to our amazing children, they are our absolute priority and wish people to be kind and mindful of this."
The couple married in 2002 at Clearwell Castle in the Forest of Dean and went on to become one of the most glamorous couples on the social circuit.
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