Jordan Cracknell on realising the importance of her husband’s legacy to Brits, making the younger generation financially aware and loving life in Henley
He’s not ‘James Cracknell, Olympian and rowing legend’ to me – he’s just James.” It’s a statement, being a lover of all things sport, that doesn’t quite sink in for Absolutely, but for Jordan Cracknell, it couldn’t be simpler. Meeting her future husband in 2019 at the University of Cambridge after arriving in the UK from America, she fell for James for who he really was, rather than the fact he’s a sporting great in these parts. In this month of Valentine’s, that to Absolutely is true love.
“I underestimated just how popular rowing is in the UK,” Jordan picks up. “In the States an Olympic household name is a Greg Louganis, Simone Biles or a Michael Jordan, swimming, gymnastics and team sports take precedence over everything; rowing just isn’t a big Olympic sport to the average American.
When James first told me he was an Olympian, I didn’t think much of it. ‘Who even watches rowing?’ I thought to myself. I only realised I was dating a household name at the Henley Regatta. It was a strange feeling at first, but the feeling ebbed away quickly. I’d never thought of him as a celebrity before that – by then, he was already just James to me, and that’s part of why nothing changed between us.”
Why does she think they clicked? “I think, to borrow a phrase, we both ‘keep it real’,” Jordan smiles. “We value honesty and staying grounded, and that shared mindset creates a sense of trust and comfort. It’s refreshing to just be yourself and know that’s enough – that’s something we’ve both brought into our relationship from day one.”
She may be grounded, but life is very different for Jordan than when she was back in New York six years ago. For one, could she imagine doing an interview with a lifestyle magazine? “Not at all,” she shakes her head. “Six years ago, I was in New York rushing through mid town, coffee in hand desperately trying to escape the chill of NYC in January. Fast forward six years and… it’s still cold! But, I’ve now swapped bustling Manhattan for tranquil Henley on Thames. I couldn’t be happier, but I also couldn’t have predicted such a huge change. Six years really isn’t that long when you think about it.”
The reason Jordan is talking to Absolutely is due to the fact that she has become known for championing financial literacy initiatives for young girls and women, and even has a new book out all about it. “Financial literacy is such a powerful tool for economic empowerment, yet the gender gap in financial knowledge worldwide remains significant,” Jordan explains. “Women are still statistically more likely to face challenges in understanding personal finances compared to men, and this can have a huge impact on their confidence and career opportunities.
“It’s something I’ve seen time and time again throughout my career,” Jordan continues, “and I truly believe it starts in childhood. When I conducted research into this issue, it only confirmed what I’d suspected – there is a huge gap in financial literacy for children. I certainly didn’t have any resources on financial literacy in my childhood. I was just very lucky to have a father who worked in the industry and a support network that helped me find the confidence to pursue a career in finance. But not everyone has that kind of guidance, and that’s what motivated me to take action. I wanted to create a resource that could spark those first, important conversations about finance for young girls – especially those who may not have a support system in place to guide them.”
This desire to pass on her knowledge has resulted in Jordan’s new book, You Can Count on Penny. “Having looked into books available, and finding a lack of a ‘little miss banker’-type stories for children, I decided to combine my love of writing with my passion for advocating for more women in finance and created You Can Count on Penny, as a tool for both parents and guardians to open up conversations about careers, in a fun way with a book that children can love,” she says. “The book is written for parents to read to their children at the early stages and as they develop their reading skills they can go on to read it themselves.
There’s not enough women in finance today. More women in the finance industry means breaking down the stereotype that women aren’t talented mathematically, and so my hope is that ambitious little Penny and her adventurous tale will inspire a future generation of girls to embrace their love of maths, and give them a role model who shows that a career in finance is within reach, no matter what anyone says, or how impossible it seems.”
What has the response been like? “I did a book reading at primary school and seeing the reaction of a group of children to Penny’s story was so heartwarming,” Jordan smiles. “I remember a little girl asked a question about why I wrote the book and it was incredibly touching, that moment will stay with me. The reaction of the press and media have been great as well and I’ve had a huge amount of support from my family and friends.”
Jordan will be doing plenty in the local community around the subject, whilst also continuing to discover new things in the place she now calls home. “We moved to Henley in September of last year, James started falling in love with Henley while he was training for the Olympics. I’d visited several times since he and I became a couple and it was love at first sight. After spending so much time in NYC and London, Henley has become a sanctuary for de-stressing. The peaceful walks, the tranquil rowing on the water, the friendly people – and the dogs absolutely love it. It’s now home, and I couldn’t be more happy.” Life is certainly good for Jordan with just James.
