The award was open to university rowers worldwide who have "demonstrated the core values of the sport", which include "teamwork, fairness, and inclusivity".

Cook, a final year mechanical engineering student at University College London, beat off competition from 12 different countries when he was announced as the winner earlier this month.

He has achieved considerable academic success as well as competing internationally as part of the British eight squad that won won silver at the 2013 Universiade in Kazan.

Cook has also been heavily involved in coaching others in addition to organising and participating in a number of charity events.

In 2011 he rowed 1,000 kilometres down the River Zambezi as part of the "Row Zambezi Expedition".

As well as teaching Zambian students to row, this raised over $40,000 (£25,000/€29,000) for "Village Water", a charity that helps small communities in Africa to develop the infrastructure to provide clean and fresh water supplies for their homes.

As part of the award, Cook was presented with a Parmigiani Fleurier "Tonda 1950" watch by Parmigiani chief executive Jean-Marc Jacot.

James Cook receives his award from the chief executive of Parmigiani, Jean-Marc Jacot

In addition to this, Cook's rowing club, at the University of London, will receive a custom-built top-of-the-range Filippi racing eight built in Italy.

The boat will be given to the women's eight in order to help them reach similar levels to those achieved by the men in recent years, it was revealed.

Jacot was one of the three members of the judging panel of the award along with FISA President Denis Oswald and New Zealand's reigning Olympic single sculls champion Mahé Drysdale. 

As well as members of Cook's family and rowing club, several other big names in the sport were also present, including double Olympic gold medallist Andrew Triggs Hodge and Martin Cross, a gold medallist at the 1984 Olympics in the same boat as a young, but future five-time champion, Sir Steve Redgrave.

All of the champions present were gathered on stage and asked what it will take to reach the highest level.

Training hard, enjoying it and always listening to the coach were among various answers given.

Pride of place in terms of speeches however, went to the Parmigiani chief executive Jacot, who described how emotional he was to be here alongside FISA "friends" he had known for decades.

He then described how he had enjoyed working with rowers in comparison with working with athletes from other sports, how he hoped for a female winner next year, and how - with a nod to single sculler Drysdale next to him - the qualities required for those who row in an eight are what he most appreciates.

James Cook poses alongside four Olympic champions, FISA President elect Jean-Christophe Rolland, Andrew Triggs Hodge, Mahé Drysdale and Martin Cross

Cook was unsurprisingly delighted to win the award and told insidethegames how it was a "massive honour".

"I was definitely not expecting it, and after reading about some of the other nominated athletes, it was a privilege to be alongside them because what they have done is equally as great," he said.

He claimed university and training were mutually compatible. 

"Rowing and studying balance each other really, really well," he explained.

"It's amazing what you can achieve and just trying to be disciplined by doing both creates time.

"I'm still learning a lot about how to do that and I've got many role-models at the University of London to learn from.

"I don't like to think too far ahead, just one step at a time, but would love to see how far I could go in rowing.

"That could be as a student, in a senior boat, or even at the Olympics, but it is all about trying to reach my potential."

Oswald was similarly strong in his praise for the candidates, but described the scope of Cook's achievements as what made him stand out.

"The award was not necessarily about sporting achievement but more about someone who has done something special," he told insidethegames. 

"There were many applications but at the end we concluded that James Cook, for what he has done in different fields, deserved to be recognised.

"He is a university rower, who has coached younger people and helped them progress and also raised money for a water charity.

"This dedication for the interests of others was very important as was the link to water as water is essential for rowing it is our field of play."

Olympic champion Mahé Drysdale was one of the judges who decided to award James Cook the inaugural title

This praise was echoed by Drysdale, who has won five world titles in addition to his Olympic gold medal.

"It was fantastic and a really great experience to be on the judging panel," he told insidethegames.

"Reading about the achievements of some of these athletes is amazing.

"I absolutely loved my time at university and I loved rowing.

"University was a great part of my life, and for me it turned into rowing, but that won't happen for everyone.

"What James [Cook] has demonstrated is that whatever he puts his mind to he achieves, so whether he focuses on rowing I'm sure he will be very successful.

"That is what this award is about."