By Paul Osborne

British rower James Cook is awarded the first ever Parmigiani Spirit AwardOctober 17 - London University Student James Cook has been named as the first winner of the Parmigiani Spirit Award


The 21-year-old mechanical engineering student is currently in his final year of study at University College London and captains the University of London Boat Club (ULBC).

He was also part of the Great Britain eight that won silver at the 2013 Universiade in Kazan.

The Parmigiani Spirit Award was open to university rowers worldwide who demonstrated the core values of rowing - teamwork, fairness, natural, inclusive and enduring - in their social, academic and sporting life and, through those values, also enabled or inspired exceptional success in other people's lives.

A total of 25 nominations from 12 countries were received for the award with the six shortlisted nominees coming from Australia, Britain, China and South Africa.

Cook was awarded the honour after dedicating hours of coaching work to younger rowers ULCB while also training himself to be ready to compete at an international level.

In 2011 Cook also rowed 1, 000 miles down the Zambesi River as part of the Row Zambesi Expedition which raised over $40,000(£25,000/ €29,000) for Village Water, a charity dedicated to helping small communities in Africa develop the means to provide clean, fresh water supplies for their homes.

James Cook and Ertan Hazine of GB row in the Mens Pair final during 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup II at Eton DorneyBritain's James Cook and Ertan Hazine row in the men's pairs final during the 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup at Eton Dorney

The panel of judges who chose Cook comprised of New Zealand's Olympic single sculls champion Mahé Drysdale, Parmigiani Fleurier chief executive Jean-Marc Jacot and International Federation of Rowing Associations (FISA) President Denis Oswald.

"James Cook is an outstanding role model to all university students and for our sport," said Oswald.

"He is a successful rower, a leader and a magnificent team-player who has given so much to charity and to others.

"He is an inspiration to all and a worthy winner of the first Parmigiani Spirit Award."

Cook is due receive a hand-crafted Parmigiani Fleurier watch at the presentation ceremony in London on October 31.

His club, ULBC, will be presented with a custom-built top-of-the-range Filippi eight racing shell to be named "Parmigiani Spirit 2013".

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