Triathletin Chrissie Wellington (Christine Ann Wellington, * 18.02.1977) hat nach ihrem denkwürdigen Sieg beim Ironman Hawaii 2011, bei dem sie trotz Verletzung mit überragender Lauf- und Energieleistung gewann, ihren Rücktritt erklärt.
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| Ihr letzter großer sportlicher Auftritt fand im Rahmen der Ironman Triathlon WM 2011 von Kailua-Kona, Hawaii statt. Die Britin bewegt sich mit dem vierten Titel und der Weltbestzeit in einer Liga mit Paula Newby-Fraser (8 Titel) und Natascha Badmann (6 Titel) und den Pendants Mark Allen und Dave Scott bei den Herren. Photo: Larry Rosa |
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| Selbst ein Sturz, wenige Tage vor dem Ironman Hawaii 2011 verhinderte trotz starker Abschürfungen und einer Brustmuskelzerrung nicht einen neuerlichen Sieg von Chrissie Wellington. 2012 folgte das Sabattical-Jahr, Ende 2012 der Rücktritt. Die weiblichen Mitbewerberinnen auf die Podiumsplatzierungen werden diese Neuigkeit freudig zur Kenntnis nehmen. Ebenso Skeptiker und Kritiker, die Wellingtons Leistung und Physiognomie mit Doping mit Wachstumshormonen und Leistungsmanipulation assoziiert haben. Photo: Chrissie Wellington |
Chrissie Wellingtons Statement vom 03.12.1012:
“Over the past 12 months I have had time to reflect and think, about my past and, of course, also of my future. Being a professional Ironman athlete has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have achieved more than I could have ever imagined, and been so fortunate to travel to some beautiful places, compete against the best in the world, and forge many lasting friendships. Those life-changing experiences and memories will stay with me forever.
As an athlete I sought ‘the perfect race’. That race within myself where I dug to the depths mentally and physically, and that hard-fought race with my competitors. The Ironman World Championships in 2011 was the icing on the cake for me as an athlete. It was my ‘perfect race’ and it ‘completed’ me.
My passion for the sport hasn’t waned, but my passion for new experiences and new challenges is what is now burning the most brightly. Hence, I have got to the point where I know that it is right for me to retire from professional Ironman racing. Needless to say this decision has not come easy, but deep in my heart I know it is the right thing for me to do. My future will, of course, involve sport and triathlon – but it will no longer be the axis around which my entire life revolves.
In the past year, since I won the Ironman World Championships, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being able to dedicate myself to other aspects of my life, including charity work, public speaking, policy development, and of course publishing and promoting my autobiography, ‘A Life Without Limits’. I will keep everyone updated on my future plans via my website – www.chrissiewellington.org and twitter - @chrissiesmiles.
Of course I could not have achieved what I have without the unwavering support of so many people – my family and friends, my manager Ben and the Wasserman team, my amazing coaches, my wonderful, wonderful sponsors who have enabled me to make my passion my career, the race organisers, my fellow pro athletes, the media who have given me such an amazing platform, the volunteers and all the thousands of age groupers around the world.
I will continue to act as an ambassador for a number of my sponsors.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single person that has been part of my Ironman journey, and wish you all the very best for the 2013 season and beyond.”
