Our Patrons

Chrissie Wellington OBE

Chrissie Wellington OBE is a former British professional triathlete and four-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011).

Chrissie is the first British athlete to win the Ironman Triathlon World Championship, and was undefeated in all thirteen of her races over the ironman distance.

Since retiring from professional sport in 2012 Chrissie has done countless endurance events, from cycling sportives, to marathons and ultra-marathons and even a cross country ski marathon or two!
 
Chrissie was awarded a first-class degree by the University of Birmingham (BsC Geography) in 1998 and a Distinction from the University of Manchester (MA Econ Development Studies) in 2000. Prior to becoming a professional athlete in 2007, she worked for the British Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as a policy adviser on international development and also managed water and sanitation projects in Nepal.
 
Chrissie’s work now focuses on improving individual and population health and
wellbeing, including interventions to increase participation in physical activity. She is the Head of Health and Wellbeing for parkrun and is committed to encouraging
people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to participate in, and realise the
incredible benefits of, physical activity.
 
Chrissie published her Sunday Times Best Selling autobiography, A Life Without
Limits, in 2012, and her second book, To the Finish Line: A World Champion
Triathlete's Guide to Your Perfect Race, in 2017. In 2021, she co-authored and published two fully illustrated children's books with friend and former athlete Susie Bush-Ramsey entitled You're so strong and You're so amazing, as a means of sharing messages about belief, trust, love, friendship, trying your best and
embracing change. 

Chrissie was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to sport and charity. She was also named the 2009 Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year and has Honorary Doctorates from the University of Birmingham and the University of Bristol.
 
Chrissie lives with her husband, former professional athlete Tom Lowe, and their
daughter Esme in a small village in Somerset.

During her triathlon career Chrissie log-rolled across the finish line, in memory of Jon Blais, a American triathlete who sadly died of MND in 2007. A decade or more later, she is incredibly proud and honoured to be a patron of Stand Against MND, having forged a lasting friendship with Sam through their shared love of triathlon. She was delighted to join a team who pushed Sam at the TCS London Marathon and the Rob Burrows Leeds Marathon in 2023, and looks forward to completing more crazy endurance challenges in support of Stand Against MND.

Jonny Owen