Chrissie Wellington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chrissie Wellington
OBE

Wellington winning the 2008 Frankfurt Ironman
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Muppet The Chrissinator
Born	(1977-02-18) 18 February 1977 (age 48) Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Alma mater	University of Birmingham University of Manchester
Agent	Lizzie Chapman, Wasserman Media Group
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	60 kg (132 lb)
Other interests	International development Gender equality
Sport
Country	UK
Team	teamTBB (2007–2008)
Turned pro	February 2007
Coached by	Frank Horwill (2002–2004) Tim Weeks (2006) Brett Sutton (2007–2008) Simon Lessing (2009) self-coached (2009) Dave Scott (2009–2011)
Retired	January 2012
Medal record Women's triathlon Ironman Triathlon World Championships Gold 2011 Kailua-Kona Elite Gold 2009 Kailua-Kona Elite Gold 2008 Kailua-Kona Elite Gold 2007 Kailua-Kona Elite ITU Long Distance World Championships Gold 2008 Almere Individual ITU Age Group World Championships Gold 2006 Lausanne Individual

Christine Ann Wellington, born on February 18, 1977, is a famous English former professional triathlete. She is best known for winning the Ironman Triathlon World Championship four times! An Ironman triathlon is a super tough race that includes a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bike ride, and a 26.22-mile (42.20 km) marathon run.

Chrissie was amazing because she held three world records for Ironman-distance races. She also won the World Championship three years in a row (2007-2009). Even after getting sick and injured, she won the title again in 2011. She was the first British athlete to win the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. What's even more incredible is that she was undefeated in all thirteen of her races over the Ironman distance! She's the only triathlete ever to win the World Championship less than a year after becoming a professional.

Chrissie also broke the world record for the fastest Ironman-distance race three times at Challenge Roth in Germany. Her best time was 8 hours, 18 minutes, and 13 seconds. This was much faster than previous records. She also broke a 17-year-old course record at the Ironman World Championships in 2009. When she retired, she had the four fastest times ever recorded by a woman over the Ironman distance.

Before becoming a professional triathlete, Chrissie worked for the British government, helping with projects around the world. She also worked in Nepal on development projects. She is still very passionate about helping others globally. She supports charities and encourages women and girls to get involved in sports. She also fights for equal opportunities and prize money for women in sports.

Early Life and Education

Chrissie Wellington was born in Bury St Edmunds, England, and grew up in a small village called Feltwell. When she was a teenager, she was a competitive swimmer. She also played hockey and ran. She described herself as a "sporty kid" who enjoyed the social side of sports.

She went to Downham Market High School and Ryston Sixth Form College. While she played many sports, she focused more on her studies. After high school, she studied geography at the University of Birmingham and graduated with top honors in 1998.

Career Before Triathlon

After college, Chrissie traveled the world for two years. This experience showed her many global problems but also how positive changes could happen. In 2000, she earned a scholarship to study development studies at the University of Manchester. After graduating in 2001, she started working for a UK government agency called DEFRA. There, she helped with international development policies, focusing on water and sanitation.

In 2004, Chrissie took a break from her government job to work in Nepal for a development organization called Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN). She managed a project to improve sanitation in a conflict-affected area. She also helped with other tasks like writing project proposals. She loved her time in Nepal, even though it was challenging.

After leaving Nepal in 2005, she traveled more before returning to her job at DEFRA in 2006. She left this job in February 2007 to become a professional triathlete.

Amateur Triathlon Career

Chrissie's very first triathlon race was in May 2004, where she finished third. Over the next few months, she won two more races. She also competed in longer triathlons and won a team relay championship.

Her time in Nepal was very important for her triathlon training. She cycled and ran in the hilly Kathmandu valley every morning. She even cycled 1400 km from Lhasa, Tibet, to Kathmandu, crossing high mountain passes. This experience helped her build incredible mental strength and was like "altitude training" for her future career. Her friends in Nepal were amazed that she never missed a bike ride, even when she was sick.

In February 2006, she competed in the Coast to Coast race in New Zealand, a 243 km endurance event involving running, cycling, and kayaking. She finished second, even though she had almost no kayaking experience!

Soon after returning to the UK, she won the 2006 Shropshire Olympic Triathlon. This win qualified her for the ITU World Age Group (Amateur) Championships in Switzerland. She won this world title on September 2, 2006, beating her closest competitor by over four minutes. She trained very hard for this race, balancing 20 hours of training a week with her full-time job.

Chrissie had also run the London Marathon in 2002, finishing in 3 hours and 8 minutes. In 2003, she had a bike accident that injured her leg, preventing her from running another marathon. This injury led her to try triathlon in 2004.

Professional Triathlon Career

Starting with teamTBB (2007–2008)

After winning the amateur world title, Chrissie decided to become a professional triathlete. In January 2007, she met Australian coach Brett Sutton in Switzerland. Within five days, she quit her job and flew to Thailand to join Sutton's team, teamTBB.

She started by racing shorter events and quickly won races in Bangkok and Subic Bay. She then won a sprint-distance event in the UK. Later, she tried a longer race, the UK half-Ironman, but had bike problems and finished fifth. Just six days later, she won a shorter triathlon in Zürich.

In August 2007, Chrissie took on a very tough race, the Alpe d'Huez Triathlon, known for its heat and difficult climbs. Despite a flat tire and being forced off the road, she won the race by over 29 minutes! Her coach then suggested she was ready for an Ironman race, even though she hadn't done a lot of high-volume training.

After getting used to the hot weather in Thailand, Chrissie won Ironman Korea. She finished over 50 minutes ahead of the second-place athlete. This win earned her a spot in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

First Ironman World Championship Win

On October 13, 2007, Chrissie Wellington won the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. She finished in 9 hours, 8 minutes, and 45 seconds, five minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. Her marathon run was the second-fastest ever by a woman on that course. Her victory was a huge surprise and was called the "biggest upset in Ironman Hawaii history" because she was a rookie (first-timer) at the event.

A New Season in 2008

In April 2008, Chrissie won Ironman Australia, her first Ironman race since Hawaii. She won by five minutes and her marathon time was faster than all but two men. A few weeks later, she tried a World Cup race in Korea but finished 22nd. She saw this as a chance to learn and improve.

Becoming European Champion

At the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt, Germany, in July 2008, Chrissie had an amazing race. She recorded the second-fastest time ever by a woman over the Ironman distance. She was very close to breaking the world record, but she slowed down to celebrate with the crowd in the last few kilometers.

Beating Most Men at Alpe d'Huez

Later that month, she won the Alpe d'Huez Triathlon again. She finished second overall, beating all but one man in the race! She was more than 25 minutes ahead of the second-place woman. She also set the fastest time for climbing the famous 21 bends of the Alpe d'Huez.

First Half-Ironman Win

In August 2008, Chrissie got her first win at the half-Ironman distance at the Timberman 70.3 triathlon in New Hampshire. She finished sixth overall, 18 minutes ahead of the second-place woman.

ITU Long Distance World Champion and Second Ironman World Championship Win

Two weeks after her Timberman win, Chrissie competed against the Ironman-distance world record holder, Yvonne van Vlerken, at the ITU long distance World Championship in Almere. Chrissie won easily, finishing more than 17 minutes ahead of the second-place athlete.

In October, Chrissie returned to Kona as the defending champion and won her second Ironman World Championship title. She set a new Hawaii marathon course record. Even though she lost about 10 minutes due to a flat tire, she still finished about 15 minutes ahead of second place.

Leaving teamTBB

In October 2008, Chrissie announced she was leaving teamTBB and coach Brett Sutton. She said she was very grateful to Brett and the team for helping her achieve so much, but she no longer fit into their system, which focused on "development athletes." She later announced that her new coach would be Simon Lessing.

Life After teamTBB (2009–2011)

First World Record at Roth

Despite being sick with shingles, Chrissie set a new world record for Ironman-distance triathlon races on July 12, 2009, at Challenge Roth. Her time of 8 hours, 31 minutes, and 59 seconds beat the previous record by almost 14 minutes! Her bike time was also a new world record.

In August, Chrissie decided to coach herself, leaving Simon Lessing.

Third Ironman World Championship Win and New Hawaii Course Record

In October 2009, Chrissie won the world championship for the third time. She set a new course record of 8 hours, 54 minutes, and 2 seconds, breaking a record that had stood since 1992. She finished almost 20 minutes ahead of second place. Only 22 men were faster than Chrissie in this race.

2010: Bike Crash and Recovery

On January 2, 2010, Chrissie fell from her bicycle on black ice during a training ride. She broke bones in her right arm and hand and needed surgery. This injury severely limited her training. However, she later said the crash was good because it forced her to rest and focus on other areas like strength training.

Chrissie returned to racing in June, winning Ironman 70.3 Kansas. She finished more than 16 minutes ahead of the second-place woman.

More World Records at Challenge Roth

On July 18, 2010, Chrissie defended her Challenge Roth title and set a new Ironman-distance world record of 8 hours, 19 minutes, and 13 seconds. This was over 12 minutes faster than her own previous record! She also set new women's records for the bike split and the marathon run. Only three men ran a faster marathon than her.

Disappointment at Kona

In August, Chrissie set a new course record in her third win at Timberman 70.3. However, at the 2010 Ironman World Championship in October, she decided not to start the race due to illness. She later found out she had bacterial strep throat, pneumonia, and West Nile virus.

First Official Ironman World Record

On November 21, 2010, after recovering from her illness, Chrissie set a new world record for an Ironman-branded race in Tempe, Arizona. Her time was 8 hours, 36 minutes, and 13 seconds. Even though she rode the last two miles of the bike course on a flat tire, she still beat the previous course record by 35 minutes!

2011: Another Season, More World Records

In April 2011, Chrissie won Ironman South Africa in a new "M-dot" world record time of 8 hours, 33 minutes, and 56 seconds. She finished eighth overall and nearly 35 minutes ahead of the second-place woman. She set new female records for the bike, run, and overall course. Her marathon time was even faster than all the men's times!

In July, Chrissie broke her own Ironman-distance world record at Challenge Roth by exactly one minute, finishing in 8 hours, 18 minutes, and 13 seconds. Her marathon time of 2 hours, 44 minutes, and 35 seconds was also a new world record. Only four men finished ahead of her, and only one man had a faster marathon time.

Bike Crash Before Kona

On September 24, 2011, just two weeks before the World Championships in Kona, Chrissie had a serious bike crash. She got severe road rash (like bad burns) on her left leg and injuries to her elbow and hip. The pain was intense, and she struggled to train. She couldn't swim properly and had to use crutches to walk. Doctors found she had damaged muscles and a bad infection in her leg.

Despite these severe injuries, Chrissie kept her problems mostly secret from her competitors. She received a lot of medical treatment to help her recover before the race.

Regaining the World Title

Her coach told her to swim slower because of her injuries. Her swim was much slower than usual. On the bike, her hip was in constant pain. When she started the marathon, five women were ahead of her, and her hamstrings began to cramp. But Chrissie pushed through the pain, which she described as the "worst I'd ever known." She ran the first half of the marathon very fast, increasing her lead. She passed the last woman ahead of her and crossed the finish line to win her fourth world title in 8 hours, 55 minutes, and 8 seconds. Her marathon time was a course record until the second-place finisher, Mirinda Carfrae, crossed the line just after her, setting an even faster marathon record.

After the race, her coach said Chrissie was "traumatized" by her injuries, and her performance was "inspirational" because she pushed herself beyond what seemed possible.

Retirement from Professional Triathlon

On January 16, 2012, Chrissie announced she was taking a one-year break from professional Ironman racing. She wanted to spend more time with her family in the UK and explore new opportunities, like promoting her book and being involved with the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She also wanted to dedicate more time to her charity work and promoting triathlon in the UK. She later joined the BBC's commentary team for the Olympic triathlon events.

On December 3, 2012, Chrissie announced that she was permanently retiring from professional triathlon racing. She called her 2011 World Ironman Championships win, where she overcame huge difficulties, her "perfect race" and the one that "completed" her. She said she would still be involved with the sport, but not as a professional racer.

Post-Triathlon Career

parkrun

Chrissie discovered parkrun, a free, weekly 5k running event, when she saw 300 people running in Richmond Park. She decided to join them. In February 2013, Chrissie joined parkrun's staff as Head of Participation and later became Head of Health and Wellbeing.

On May 2, 2015, Chrissie married Tom Lowe. They have a daughter named Esme.

Comrades Marathon

In June 2019, Chrissie completed the Comrades Marathon, one of the world's toughest ultra-marathons in South Africa. This race is 90 kilometers (about 56 miles) long! She finished 14th in her age group.

International Development

Chrissie Wellington has always said she has two main passions: sport and helping people around the world. After her first Hawaii Ironman win in 2007, she talked about how sport can help children and bring communities together, especially in places affected by conflict.

Her former coach, Brett Sutton, shared that Chrissie wanted to use her triathlon success to help develop social programs for underprivileged kids in Southeast Asia. She even sponsored a young Filipino athlete to train with her group. Chrissie believes that sport can build bridges, empower people, teach, and heal. She hopes to inspire people to try sports and reach their full potential.

Awards and Honours

Chrissie Wellington was named the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year in 2009. She was also given the MBE award in 2010 for her services to Ironman triathlons. In 2016, she was promoted to OBE for her work in sport and charity.

Both the University of Birmingham and the University of Bristol have given her honorary doctorates. These awards recognized her amazing achievements in sports and her work promoting sport to help communities around the world.

Results

The table below shows all of Chrissie Wellington's races as a professional triathlete.

Note

• If transition times are not shown, they are included in the swim, bike, or run times.

Sources

General sources

Images for kids

• 

  Chrissie Wellington competing at the 2008 Frankfurt Ironman

• 

  The famous 21 bends at the end of the bike stage of the Alpe d'Huez triathlon

See also

In Spanish: Chrissie Wellington para niños