The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver

Mr James Thompson Awarded for:

His excellent contribution to the field of water sport and winning gold for South Africa in the 2012 Olympic Games. He is undoubtedly the pride of the nation by raising South Africa’s international standing.

Profile of James Thompson

Mr James Thompson is a South African rower. He attended school at the St. Andrew’s College in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape and proceeded to the University of Pretoria for tertiary education, where he eventually graduated with a degree in Sports Science.

At university he joined the Tuks rowing club. He made his international debut in 2003, when he won bronze at the World Rowing Junior Championships in the coxed four. He went on to win two silver medals at the under-23 level in the lightweight pair before launching his senior career.

After winning Olympic gold in the lightweight men’s four in London in 2012, he switched to the lightweight double in 2014 and raced to claim his first ever World Championship title.

Thompson is also a keen biker who, after the London Olympics, entered the ABSA Cape Epic, which is the toughest mountain bike race in the world.