It takes a strong person to compete in the Ironman races-both mentally and physically. It takes an extraordinary person to win three Ironman World Championships while lowering the course record, hold the women’s Ironman-distance world record, and remain undefeated in the distance. Add an always-present smile and a heart dedicated to helping others and you have the endearing Chrissie Wellington.

Great Britain’s Wellington is riding on a high after a historic race where she shattered the 17-year-old Ironman World Championship course record on October 10th, 2009 in Kona, Hawaii. Finishing in 8:54:03, she blew away the women’s professional field, making her final leg a race against the clock, not the nearest competitor. Aside from her overall dominance during the competition, it was her extraordinary bike split that amazed followers around the world, as she dropped 16 minutes, 8 seconds from the prior year. Immediately following the race, Wellington graced a two-page spread of Sports Illustrated, capturing her monumental finish

The pinnacle of Wellington’s career in Kona came after a full season of great success. In the heart of the 2009 season, she won Ironman Australia, Ironman 70.3 Kansas, Timberman Ironman 70.3 for the second year in a row, and set the Ironman distance world record at the Quelle Challenge in Roth, Germany. Her finishing time in Roth shattered the previous record by 14 minutes and proved to be a milestone in what has been an already inspiring career.

Aside from continuing to make headlines and grabbing the attention of all those in the sport since going professional in 2007, Wellington works to make the experiences she has in athletics accessible to all young women. Working with GOTRIbal-an organization developed to build supportive networks to help empower women and promote the sport of triathlon around the world- she is able to “pay it forward� to help girls achieve what they may not have imagined possible.