Australia
Chris McCormack (born 4 April 1973), also known as ‘Macca’, is an Australian triathlete and winner of the 1997 ITU Triathlon World Championships. Over a lengthy career, McCormack has also been a two-time winner of the Ironman World Championship (2007 and 2010), plus the winner of the 1997 ITU World Cup Series and 2012 Long Distance World Championships.
McCormack’s early athletic career began in primary school where he participated mainly on soccer and rugby teams, winning several distinguished sporting awards including the NSW Sporting Blue for the best athlete in the state. McCormack also won numerous Australian Athletic and cross country titles through secondary school, but was pushed by his parents to focus on education over sport. After graduating in the top 10% of the State, McCormack decided to further his studies completing a Bachelor of Economics degree at the University of New South Wales.
McCormack raced his first triathlon while attending university, and after winning two Australian Junior Triathlon titles went on to place 4th at Junior World Championships. He graduated University in October 1995, and in 1996 flew to Europe to race triathlons professionally.
Racing for the Tricastan Triathlon Team out of France he had immediate success winning 9 events on his first season abroad, including the ITU World Cup race in Drummondville, Canada, his first race as an elite triathlete. In 1997, he finished the year ranked number one, winning both the 1997 ITU Triathlon World Championships, and the 1997 ITU Triathlon World Cup Series - becoming the first male triathlete ever to win both titles and be ranked number 1 in the World in a single season. McCormack would be ranked ITU World number 1 for more than 26 months in total.
In 2002, ‘Macca’ shifted his focus to Ironman racing. He won Ironman Australia on debut in 2002 and then defended that title in 2003, winning again in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
McCormack became Ironman World Champion in 2007, with a winning time of 8:15:34, including a 2:42 marathon in very hot conditions, and won again at the 2010 Ironman World Championship, defeating two-time defending champion, Craig Alexander.
