{{short description|Australian rower}} {{other uses}} {{pp-move}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox sportsperson | honorific_prefix = | name = | headercolor = green | honorific_suffix = | image = James McRae South Australian Rower.png | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = | national_team = | ethnicity = | citizenship = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|06|27}} | birth_place = Monteith, South Australia | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|df=yes|death year|death month|death day|birth year|birth month|birth day}} --> | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | monuments = | residence = | education = Unity College | alma_mater = | occupation = | years_active = | employer = | agent = | height = 194 cm | weight = 116 kg | spouse = | life_partner = | other_interests = | module = | country = Australia | sport = Rowing | position = | disability = | disability_class = | weight_class = | weight_class_type = | rank = | event = | event_type = | collegeteam = | universityteam = | league = | league_type = | club = Murray Bridge | team = | turnedpro = | turnedpro_type = | partner = | former_partner = | coach = John Driessen | retired = | coaching = | module2 = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | paralympics = | commonwealth = | highestranking = | pb = | show-medals = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's rowing}} {{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }} {{MedalOlympic}} {{MedalSilver | 2016 Rio | Quad scull}} {{MedalBronze | 2012 London | Quad scull}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold|2011 Bled|Quad scull}} {{MedalBronze|2010 Karapiro|Quad scull}} {{MedalBronze|2014 Amsterdam|M2x}} | medaltemplates-title = | module3 = | updated = 4 August 2016 }} [[File:Rowing at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's quadruple sculls, Final A (3).JPG|thumb|Rowing the final (left boat) of the quadruple sculls at the 2012 Summer Olympics.]] '''James McRae''' (born 27 June 1987)<ref name="rowingaustralia1">{{cite web |url=http://www.rowingaustralia.com.au/hp_athletes_profiles_mcrae-j.shtm |title=Athlete profile: James McRae |publisher=Rowingaustralia.com.au |access-date=26 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928073444/http://www.rowingaustralia.com.au/hp_athletes_profiles_mcrae-j.shtm |archive-date=28 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> is an Australian former representative rower. He is a national champion, world champion, three time Olympian, Olympic medallist and record holder. In the Australian men's quad scull he won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
==Early life== McRae grew up in Murray Bridge South Australia and attended Murray Bridge Primary school and was dux of Unity College, Murray Bridge. He commenced a B. Mech Eng at the University of Adelaide in 2007.
McRae's siblings Jessica and Anna are Australian rowers who've held South Australian Sports Institute scholarships and won Australian titles.<ref>[http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/interstate-championships/2005.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724103245/http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/interstate-championships/2005.html|date=24 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.recsport.sa.gov.au/sasi/rowing.html |title=Office for Recreation & Sport SA : Sports : Rowing |publisher=Recsport.sa.gov.au |access-date=26 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614161536/http://www.recsport.sa.gov.au/sasi/rowing.html |archive-date=14 June 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Anna McRae has also competed internationally for Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/world-u23-championships/2005-Amsterdam.php |title=2005 World Under 23 Championships – Australian Rowing History |publisher=Rowinghistory-aus.info |date=24 July 2005 |access-date=26 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821160431/http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/world-u23-championships/2005-Amsterdam.php |archive-date=21 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Club and state rowing== McRae rows from the Murray Bridge Rowing Club.<ref>{{cite web |author=Prue Semler |url=http://murraybridge.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/rowing/on-course-for-beijing/760292.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720123217/http://murraybridge.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/rowing/on-course-for-beijing/760292.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 July 2012 |title=On course for Beijing – Local News – Sport – Rowing – Murray Valley Standard |publisher=Murraybridge.yourguide.com.au |date=28 April 2008 |access-date=26 August 2011 }}</ref> He is a South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) Scholarship holder and was coached by Adrian David a Romanian former international oarsman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.recsport.sa.gov.au/sasi/rowing.html#2 |title=Office for Recreation & Sport SA : Sports : Rowing |publisher=Recsport.sa.gov.au |access-date=26 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614161536/http://www.recsport.sa.gov.au/sasi/rowing.html#2 |archive-date=14 June 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
For nine consecutive years from 2008 to 2016 McCrae was seated in the South Australian men's eights who contested the King's Cup at the Australian Rowing Championships.<ref>[http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info Guerin Foster Australian Rowing History]</ref> In 2007 and 2011 he was also South Australia's selectee to contest the interstate men's Single scull – the President's Cup. In 2011 he won that event and also rowed in the open men's Quad scull who won the national title.<ref>{{cite web|last=Etheridge |first=Michelle |url=http://weekly-times-messenger.whereilive.com.au/news/story/now-for-the-world/ |title=West Lakes to lure world rowing events – Local News – News – Weekly Times Messenger |publisher=Weekly-times-messenger.whereilive.com.au |date=15 March 2011 |access-date=26 August 2011}}</ref>
In October 2009 McRae was awarded life membership of the Murray Bridge Rowing Club for being the club's most successful rower and the club's first Olympian since their entire VIII of 1924 " the Murray Cods" competed at Paris 1924.<ref>http://rowingmurraybridge.net.au/assets/file/Centenary%20Dinner%20publication%204.pdf{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He undertook a number of public speaking and promotional events after the Beijing games. In April 2010 McRae took part in an 'Active April' event involving Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio personalities Tony McCarthy{{who|date=August 2020}} and John Kenneally.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2010/04/the-breakfast-crew-go-rowing.html |title=The Breakfast Crew Go Rowing – ABC South Australia – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) |publisher=Blogs.abc.net.au |date=23 April 2010 |access-date=26 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325015913/http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2010/04/the-breakfast-crew-go-rowing.html |archive-date=25 March 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
==International rowing career== McRae began his international career competing with Matt Bolt in a Double scull at the 2005 World Rowing Junior Championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/world-jr-championships/2005-photos/pages/2005-MJ2x.html |title=2005 World Junior Championships |publisher=Rowinghistory-aus.info |access-date=26 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821172737/http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/world-jr-championships/2005-photos/pages/2005-MJ2x.html |archive-date=21 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
McRae competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the men's Quad scull.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24075624-5017051,00.html |title=Sport | All the latest sports news |publisher=The Australian |date=27 July 2011 |access-date=26 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802202718/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24075624-5017051,00.html |archive-date=2 August 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In their first race at Beijing, the Australian crew of McRae, Daniel Noonan, Brendan Long and Chris Morgan broke the world record to win their heat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/rowing/aussie-scullers-break-world-record/2008/08/10/1218306659192.html |title=Rowing – Sports – Olympics |publisher=smh.com.au |date=10 August 2008 |access-date=26 August 2011}}</ref> That time of 5:36.20 stood as the Olympic best time until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.<ref>[https://worldrowing.com/athletes/best-times/ Best Times at World Rowing]</ref> The quad finished second in their semi-final to secure a place in the Olympic final.<ref>[http://www.olympics.com.au/ScheduleAndResults/AustralianResults/tabid/367/Default.aspx?link=367&disccode=RO&]{{dead link|date=August 2011}}</ref> In the final the Australian quad crew was unable to capitalise on their earlier world record form and finished fourth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.cbc.ca/olympics_results.asp?id=rom_042100&sport=ROW |title=CBC Olympics | Rowing |publisher=Stats.cbc.ca |access-date=26 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721224113/http://stats.cbc.ca/olympics_results.asp?id=rom_042100&sport=ROW |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
After Beijing, McRae continued rowing at the highest level, winning a bronze in the men's quad scull at the 2010 World Rowing Championships<ref name="rowingaustralia1"/> At the 2011 World Rowing Championships in an upset, the Australian heavyweight quad of McRae, Daniel Noonan, Karsten Forsterling and Chris Morgan defeated the German crew to win gold. Following a costly mistake in the German boat the Australian crew took the lead in the last few metres of the race and won by 0.25secs.<ref>{{cite web|last=Morton |first=Jim |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/other-sports/australia-claims-record-medal-haul-at-world-rowing-championships-after-gold-in-mens-quad-sculls/story-e6frf56c-1226129074368 |title=Aussies claim second rowing gold | Other Sports |work=Fox Sports |date=3 September 2011 |access-date=16 February 2012}}</ref>
At the 2012 London Olympics, McRae won bronze in the men's quad in a time of 5:45.22.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-08-03/australian-rowers-in-the-medals/992990 | publisher = ABC Radio Australia | title = Australian rowers in the medals | date = 3 August 2012 | access-date = 3 August 2012 }}</ref>
At the 2014 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam he won bronze in the men's pair racing with Alexander Belonogoff. In 2016 along with Karsten Forsterling, Cameron Girdlestone and Belonogoff, McRae won the silver medal in the Australian quad to at the Rio Olympics 2016.
==References== {{reflist|30em}} {{commons category|James McRae}}
{{World champions – Men's quadruple sculls}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McRae, James}} Category:Rowers at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Rowers at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Rowers at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic medalists in rowing Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Olympic silver medalists for Australia Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Australia Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:World Rowing Championships medalists for Australia Category:Australian male rowers Category:South Australian Sports Institute alumni Category:People from Murray Bridge, South Australia Category:Sportsmen from South Australia Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen