World star and friend
I got to know Chris in 2003, at the legendary Challenge Race in Roth, where he got beaten by only a short head by Lothar Leder. Since then we have never lost track of each other and have gradually grown closer together and finally became friends.
Chris is not only an exceptional athlete, but he also has an exceptional personality. His strength and determination are beyond belief and make him do wonders. He has got this power to turn even negative events into a positive experience. He is never struggling with his fate.
The path to long course racing or the 5 years to the worldchampion title
Since doing his first Ironman in 2002 Macca has won an amazing 10 Ironman races. In 2007 he fulfilled his dream and won the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. His winning marathon time of 2:42 this past year in Hawaii was the 3rd fastest ever. Moreover, he finished 5 races under 8 hours (7:54:23). Among those the IRONMAN European championships in Frankfurt, on a course that was considered impossible for a time under 8 hours.
This again proves that anything is possible, if you believe in it! »I want to show my children and others that dreams can be strong motivators, that life for me is about being brave and having the courage to pursue these dreams. I shall never stop believing and will encourage my children and others to live the same way. It has been fulfilling for me.«
Breaking away into an unknown world
How he just got off the train somewhere in the French Alps
Chris dreamed of moving to Europe and becoming a professional triathlete. But his parents insisted on his finishing his college education.
So Chris got his degree in economics and took a job in Sydney right away to save enough money for a ticket to Europe where he imagined to fullfill his dream of becoming a professional athlete.
Chris was born in Sydney, Australia on the 4th of April, 1974. His father is Australien from Scottish origin, his mother came from a noble Maori bloodline in New Zealand, he was a docker, she a teacher.
Already at Primary School Chris loved sports tackling many team sports in those days. Back then he favoured keen competion, so he does today. At High School he succeeded in winning several distinguished sporting awards including the »NSW Sporting Blue« for the best athlete in the state.
Chris was good at school. He graduated among the top 10% of the State, attended the University of New South Wales where he completed his studies as a Bachelor of Economics.
In 1991, it was top triahtlete Greg Welch who convinced Chris to race his first triathlon. From these days a nice anecdote is passed on: Stunned by Chris’ running abilities Greg, one of the most accomplished runners in triathlon, had asked Chris whether he had ever considered triathlon as a sport. Chris answered ingenuously: I can't ride a horse.
