James Rudkin

James Alexander Rudkin (born 7 July 1994) is a British national representative rower. He is an Olympic and two-time world champion.

Club and university rowing Rudkin was raised in Northampton. He was introduced to rowing by his father and joined the Hollowell Scullers club. and then Newcastle University.

International representative career Rudkin progressed through the underage levels representing for Great Britain. He competed in junior match racing against France in 2010 & 2011 He then raced in sweep oared crews at U23 World Rowing Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2016 winning a silver medal in the men's four at that 2016 regatta. He won another bronze medal the following year at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Ottensheim, Austria in the eight with George, Josh Bugajski, Sbihi, Jacob Dawson, Wynne-Griffith, Tarrant, Thomas Ford and Fieldman. That crew had won silver at the 2019 European Rowing Championships.

In 2021, he won a European gold medal in the eight in Varese, Italy. At that year's delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics he was again in the seven seat of the Great Britain men's eight. They finished 3rd their heat but proceeded through a repechage to make the Olympic final. In the final they rowed level with the ultimate winner New Zealand at each mark but finished with a bronze medal being pipped for silver in the last 500m by the fast finishing Deutschland-Achter. In 2023 Rudkin won a second successive World Championship gold medal in the men's eight at the 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade.

He won a gold medal as part of the Great Britain eight at the 2024 Summer Olympics.