John James Jackson

John James Jackson (born 11 April 1977) is a former British bobsleigher and Royal Marines commando.[2]

John Jackson
Personal information
Full nameJohn James Jackson
NationalityBritish
Born (1977-04-11) 11 April 1977[1]
Bishop Auckland, Durham, England, United Kingdom
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Weight106 kg (234 lb)[1]
Spouse(s)Paula Walker
Sport
Country United Kingdom
Sport Bobsleigh (pilot)
ClubGB Team
Medal record
Men's Bobsleigh
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2014 SochiFour man
European Championships
Silver medal – second place2014 KönigseeFour-man
World Cup
Silver medal – second place2013 Lake PlacidFour-Man
Europa Cup
Gold medal – first place2011 St. MoritzTwo-man
Bronze medal – third place2011 St. MoritzFour-man
Bronze medal – third place2011 St. MoritzFour-man

Career

He took up bobsleighing at the age of 28 and in September 2005 he trialled at the University of Bath and won a place in the Europa Cup Team. Just 4 months later he was selected to compete as a driver in the Europa Cup team. After his first successful season, he made his world cup debut as a driver in 2007. He became the British Champion in 2008. In 2011 John won gold and two bronze medals in the Europa Cup in St Moritz and was the first British man to ever do this.[3][4][5][6]

Thereafter, Jackson had a meteoric rise through the ranks that meant he was given the nod as the main British driver.[7] Jackson's (now) wife Paula Jackson was also involved in the bobsleigh sport until her retirement from the sport in 2015. She too was recruited while serving in the British Armed Forces, in her instance with the Royal Signals. Paula has admitted several times the huge support that she gets from her family and John Jackson.[8] In June 2014 the couple announced that they were expecting their first child together. Jackson has three daughters from a previous relationship.[9]

In January 2014 Jackson led team-mates Joel Fearon, Stuart Benson and Bruce Tasker to a silver medal in the four-man event at the Bobsleigh European Championship.[10] He competed at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, guiding his crew to fifth place in the four-man event in 2014, 0.11 seconds off a bronze medal after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. In 2017, the British team were upgraded to the bronze medal position after two Russian crews were disqualified for doping violations. Jackson also competed at seven FIBT World Championships, finishing fifth in the four-man event in the 2013 Worlds at St. Moritz. He took a second place in the four-man competition at the Lake Placid round of the 2013–14 Bobsleigh World Cup, the first podium finish for a British crew for many years. Jackson announced his retirement from the sport in June 2016.[11]

Military service

Jackson joined the Royal Marines in 1996. He is currently a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) and holds the rank of Colour Sergeant.

Achievements

British Champion: 2008

World Championships:

  • 9th in 2007 (4 man crew)
  • 13th in 2008 (4 man crew)
  • 22nd in 2009 (2 man crew)
  • 17th in 2009 (4 man crew)
  • 20th in 2011 (2 man crew)
  • 10th in 2012 (4 man crew)
  • 19th in 2013 (2 man crew)
  • 5th in 2013 (4 man crew)

Winter Olympic Games:

  • 3rd in 2014 (4 man crew)

John Jackson also achieved:

  • 2006 Navy Novice Champion
  • 2005 Army Novice Champion
  • 2005 European Novice Push Championships: Bronze Medallist

References
  1. "John Jackson". BobTeamGB.org. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  2. "Corporal John Jackson". royalnavy.mod.uk.
  3. "Record week for Jackson". Eurosport. 7 February 2011. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  4. Howe, Claire (25 January 2011). "Record medal haul for British Bobsleighers is St. Moritz". ljvsm.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  5. "Commando had record bobsleigh medal haul in his sights". insidethegames.biz. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  6. "Two more medals for Jackson". Bath Chronicle. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  7. "From Bobsleighing to Afghanistan". BBC Sport. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  8. "British No.1 bobsleigh driver Paula Walker won the Junior World Championships". British Bobsleigh Association. 8 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  9. Rose, Neil (6 June 2014). "Sochi 2014 bobsleigh couple Paula Walker and John Jackson expecting first child". Bath Chronicle. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  10. Hope, Nick (26 January 2014). "GB bobsleigh quartet warm up for Sochi 2014 with silver medal". BBC Sportt. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  11. "Former Wiltshire Olympian John Jackson retires from bobsleigh after hugely successful career". Gazette and Herald. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
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