Asia Based Athlete Wins Ironman World Championships

WELLINGTON, DEBUT PERFORMER AT IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TAKES FIRST PLACE - Congratulations to teamTBB's Chrissie Wellington for her stunning debut performance at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on 13 October 2007.

2007 has been a year of incredible firsts for the 30 year old Brit, who trains in Thailand with Singapore-based company teamTBB.

Speaking to Asia Runner, Alex Bok, teamTBB manager said that he was “delighted and overwhelmed” by Chrissie's performance at the 2007 Ironman World Championships. “This win could be amazing for triathlon in Asia. Through our social programme every pro-athlete at teamTBB also mentors an up and coming young Asian athlete, and Chrissie is such a role model for these developing athletes”. Chrissie’s trainer, the teamTBB head coach, is also working with various national squads from across Asia in preparation for the forthcoming South East Asia Games, to be held in Thailand in December.

Greeting spectators with her customary cheeriness, and with some 10km still to go, Chrissie began high-fiving fellow runners heading in the opposite direction to the delight of the crowd. Speaking after the race "Some people told me I had a chance," she said. "I didn't really believe I could do it. I was praying I could hold on for the run." 

On the way in to the finish, Wellington kept pointing to the teamTBB training logo on her suit - their goal of claiming a world title has come true!

Turning professional only in February of this year, Chrissie's performance over the last seven months has confirmed that she is definitely not looking back since giving up her day job! In yesterday’s Ironman World Championships she didn't even need to glance over her shoulder. By halfway through the marathon portion of the epic multi-sport event, the nearest female competitor, Canadian Samantha McGlone, was over five minutes behind the champ.

Read Chrissie’s training blog, and find out more about the new Ironman World Champion at www.teamTBB.com

Christine Wellington - 2007 Podium Finishes
:: 1st, Ironman World Championships, October 2007
:: 3rd, Ironman 70.3 Singapore, September 2007
:: 1st, Ironman Korea, August 2007
:: 1st, Triathlon de l'Alpe d'Huez, August 2007
:: 1st, VW Circuit Zurich Olympic Distance Triathlon, June 2007
:: 1st, Subic Bay ITU Asian Cup, May 2007
:: 2nd, Mekong River ITU Asian Cup, March 2007

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Updated by Steph Cox, Asia Runner. 14 October 2007