Very few American rowers have had a longer international career than James Neil, starting at the 1986 World Junior Championships, and extending through the 2000 World Championships. Neil competed at the 1992 Olympics and was an alternate to the team in 1996. He won two gold medals at the Pan American Games, in the four in 1995 and the eight in 1999. Neil rowed at nine World Championships (1989-2000), and was an alternate to the 1997 team. He won three medals at the Worlds, gold in the 1999 coxed pair, silver in the 2000 coxed four, and bronze in the 1993 four. Neil rowed in college at Rutgers University. He also represented the West Side Rowing Club, and later coached rowing in Buffalo.