3 Time Ironman World Champion – Chrissie Wellington

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

Wellington enters the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championships with many accomplishments in the past year to boost her confidence. The season was highlighted for the Great Britain when she shattered the Ironman distance world record at the Quelle Challenge in Roth, Germany. Her time dipped 14 minutes below the previous record-raising the bar for the rest of her competitors leading into the world championships. Wellington also won Ironman Australia. Ironman 70.3 Kansas, and Timberman Ironman 70.3. The wins have set her up nicely to embark on her mission of defending her world champion title.

The past two years have been championed by Wellington on the “Big Island” of Kona. Crossing the finish of the race first in 2007 at the surprise of both herself and the entire triathlon community to become the first British champion, 2008 was validation that she was the true Ironwoman. She took the lead roughly 30 miles into the bike leg (splitting 5:05:16). Never slowing, she set a new run course record (2:57:44) before capturing her second title in 9:06:23. Wellington owned the race, clocking in nearly 15 minutes ahead of the next female.

The remarkable, inspiring attitude and presence that is Wellington will no doubt be present at the 2009 race. In the years past, she spent the rest of her day and evening after her victories cheering on the other finishers with tears in her eyes. To her, it is not about just statistics, times, and places. It is about reaching in deep to persevere through obstacles and challenges, and most importantly find joy in the experience.

After her 2008 win, she wrote in her blog “I will wear the beautiful lei with pride, and with a passion that I hope will inspire others to live their dreams and dare to believe that anything truly is possible. As I said before….never ever give up.” With the 31^st Ford Ironman World Championships upon us, there is no doubt that she will be following her own motto to never, ever give up.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 10th, 2009 at 5:24 am and is filed under Athletes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.