60 seconds with Chrissie Wellington

Eurosport - Fri, 06 Feb 21:44:00 2009

60 seconds caught up with Britain's double-Ironman Triathlon World Champion Chrissie Wellington, and wasn't surprised to find out she's not got much time for darts players.

TRIATHLON 2008 Britain's Chrissie Wellington celebrates winning second Ironman Triathlon World Championship - 0

You won your first Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii(a gruelling 2.4-mile swim followed by a 112-mile cycle ride before running a marathon to the finish line) in 2007, less than a year after turning pro. How much of a surprise was that?

I didn't even envisage doing an Ironman, I didn't even really know what it was as a discipline, or understand the significance of Hawaii. I turned pro with the idea of becoming an Olympic triathlete (demanding a paltry 0.93-mile swim, 24.85-mile bike ride and 6.21-mile run).

Which part of the course do you find the most difficult?

The opening swim is always a bit frantic. It's like a Friday-night pub brawl. There are fists and legs and body parts flying around - it would probably be quite enjoyable if it wasn't at 6.45 in the morning.

Have you ever given thought to specialising in one event?

My talent is being able to maintain high levels of power for nine hours. That's why I'm good in the Ironman - not because I'm a good cyclist, swimmer or runner, but because I can put them together over that length of time.

Can you genuinely lay claim to being the fittest woman in Britain?

Well, if you put me in a 400m race I wouldn't be able to keep up but - (hesitates) - yes, I am incredibly fit. But there are different types of fitness. I wouldn't want to take anything away from the swimmers, the cyclists and the runners out there who have achieved so much. But I'm definitely fitter than the average footballer.

Is darts a sport?

I consider darts to be a skill. I don't think you can consider an activity where you have a pint in one hand and a needle in the other a sport. For me sport is all about your body and mind being at a peak. (60 secs: So you wouldn't consider sneaking in a cheeky pint during a transition then?) Well, I suppose I could put it in my camelback.

What famous person would you most like to meet?

David Attenborough, Roger Bannister, or Lindford Christie - but not necessarily for his athletic prowess. (60 secs: Sorry, you'll have to explain that, we don't get what you mean) I've actually met him a few times, he's a triathlete these days.

Who would you most like to give a stern talking to?

I'd like to meet George W Bush and just ask him: 'Why?'. His final press conference summed him up as a man and a president. The man's an idiot. Also, any drug cheats.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Apart from the usual toilet issues which all Ironman competitors face - having stains showing up where you don't want them - not being able to fit my gas cannisters to the tyres on my bike for ages in Hawaii last year, with all the TV cameras on me, was quite embarrassing.

How long do you take to get ready in the morning?

The time it takes me to get my lycra on and get out of the door for a morning run, swim or ride.

What food would you never eat?

As I've travelled around the world I've had rat, snake, dog, monkey - there's not much I haven't tried. I'm not too keen on mayonnaise.

What single item would you take to a desert island?

My best friend, Georgina.

What three things do you most cherish?

My family, my Hawaii trophies and Vaseline (for the chafing during races, apparently).

What word to you overuse?

Bonkers.

Who was your sporting hero?

As a child it was very much Sharron Davies and Zola Budd.

What is your favourite film?

Crash.

What's on your iPod?

I like a lot of rock bands like Foo Fighters, The Killers and Feeder. Then of course Madonna, and some Chesney Hawkes.

What was the first record you bought?

MC Hammer. That was also the first concert I ever went to - I can still recite all the lyrics to You Can't Touch This.

Chrissie is a fundraiser for British youth charity Envision (www.envision.org.uk), Girls Education Nepal (www.girlseducationnepal.org.np) and Macmillan Cancer Support (www.macmillan.org.uk). Keep up to date with her at www.chrissiewellington.org.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 19 - 38 of 38

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  1. I'm really amazed at all of the stupid people­ making ignorant comments on a subject you know nothing­ about. Triathlon is one of the most grueling sports­ today. Do you understand the concept that it is THREE­ sports wrapped up into one? Try educating yourself on­ what it takes to complete an Ironman and then maybe you­ will shut your hole. Chrissie is absolutely a­ remarkable, talented woman that was working to bring­ water to remote villages before getting into triathlon,­ yet you have the nerve to vilify her out of your own­ sad ignorance.

    From David, on Thu 5 Feb 12:48AM

  2. Absolutely hilarious and sadenning comments. Ironman­ and Tir as a sport is the fastest growing sport in the­ world and demanding more and more press coverage­ because of it, if you had the slightest idea of what­ this girl has achieved you would be thinking extremely­ differently.

    Oh, she also has a number of­ qualifications and could at any time choose to return­ to a life in politics and she will openly admit to­ being single and looking for a "man" but her­ living isn't condusive to much social life. ­ She's very funny, intelligent and conducts herself­ with dignity, after all Bush IS a complete idiot!

    From PAUL R, on Wed 4 Feb 10:52AM

  3. How dare she comment on George Bush like dat?!!

    From bysola, on Tue 3 Feb 9:55PM

  4. NOT My Idea Of "Fittest"...

    From Quinland, on Tue 3 Feb 7:52PM

  5. Mmmmmmmmm. Porn....... x

    From Martin, on Tue 3 Feb 7:30PM

  6. why do you guys even bother commenting......you are not­ funny ....go back to your porn

    From markbreen39, on Tue 3 Feb 7:23PM

  7. Darts players have to get up at 5am and drink before­ they practice for 2 hours a day. thats not easy as­ sometimes they have to wait 45 mins before they can get­ on the board if other people in the pub are already­ playing. I know, Ive seen them down my local.Runnins­ easy,....just ask a crook.she sounds like a coward­ anyway,....always runnin. Stand and fight girl.

    From Martin, on Tue 3 Feb 7:11PM

  8. Post 35:- I hope you weren't trying to confirm your­ theory of darts as being a game and not a sport just­ because the expression used is "fancy a GAME of­ darts" because the same can then be said about a­ game of football, rugby, cricket, tennis, badminton ,­ ice hockey, basketball etc, etc, etc. blah blah blah.

    From dmconnell1970, on Tue 3 Feb 6:56PM

  9. Darts is for lazy F4RT5 period. closet or no closet she­ is right. That beer gut gost gooooooo which is a­ signature trade mark for dart throwers. IT IS NOT A­ SPORT. Period. Maybe a "game" but NEVER a­ sport.FANCY A GAME OF DARTS ANYONE?

    From Abdulrazaq, on Tue 3 Feb 6:11PM

  10. LESBO

    From andy, on Tue 3 Feb 5:54PM

  11. Hmm, you guys need your heads examined. Darts is a­ skill. She said that.. she said darts was a skill. ­ its a compliment. I think she would be the first to­ admit there was more "skill" in darts than­ what she does. However, she is British and is at the­ top of her game. nice one.. kudos. i understand that­ to practice darts and god knows these guys do to be as­ good as they are all they have to do is.. well practice­ darts. it is inside in the warm and they probably dont­ have to get up at six in the morning to do it. im not­ knocking darts players. i love darts but jsut because­ she says it is a skill it doesnt mean she is dissing­ it. Get your heads out of your ar ses and give her­ some credit for what she has achieved.

    From guidedog, on Tue 3 Feb 5:48PM

  12. dont just get up and do the same thing every day like­ all you losers on here respect girl......SHE GETS UP­ EVERY DAY AND RUNS SWIMS AND CYCLES YOU F4RT, THE SAME­ THING.......................................ANYONE WHO­ WOULD RATHER GO ON HOLIDAY WITH HER "BEST­ FRIEND" BEFORE HER FAMILY, IS A PRISONER CELL­ BLOCK H B14TCH..................

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Tue 3 Feb 5:29PM

  13. What I find sad about many of the comments is the­ ignorance & venom.

    Anyone who can swim 2.4 miles,­ cycle 112 miles, and then run 26 miles without stopping­ (other than nomal breaks) is FIT. That should command­ respect.

    Having said that, anyone who can throw­ consistent 180s or pot regular 147s also has skills­ that need to be respected (not sure about them being a­ 'sport' though)

    Most of us cannot do any of­ the above - I certainly cannot.

    From jp_guillou2003, on Tue 3 Feb 5:21PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    this girl reckons phil taylor having won 14 world­ titles is a loser. any mug can run, try throwing some­ darts u stupid woman

    From martinol6, on Tue 3 Feb 5:17PM

  15. Anyone who can swin 2.5miles then 112 mile cycle then­ marathon is someone with a special amount of talent­ someone who works everyday for a goal in life dont just­ get up and do the same thing every day like all you­ losers on here respect girl......

    From stephen, on Tue 3 Feb 5:16PM

  16. yeah,...but could she put a fruit pastel in her mouth­ without chewing it. ?

    From Martin, on Tue 3 Feb 4:48PM

  17. She ate Dog!! Cruel moose.

    From Denise, on Tue 3 Feb 4:34PM

  18. get a real job

    From diddy o, on Tue 3 Feb 4:20PM

  19. Help.............I cant find my head.

    From Martin, on Tue 3 Feb 4:00PM

  20. my grandad was fit. and he didnt train

    From Martin, on Tue 3 Feb 3:27PM
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