Chrissie W named among most influential women in UK sport
220 columnist and four-time Ironman world champion comes 36th in Guardian poll
Chrissie Wellington has been named by the Guardian newspaper as among the top 50 most influential women in UK sport, in recognition of her campaigning work for equality within sport, and specifically for a women’s Tour de France.
The list was topped by Debbie Jevans, the woman charged with organising next year’s Rugby World Cup in England, with UK Sport’s CEO Liz Nicholl and athlete Jess Ennis rounding out the top three. Chrissie came 36th.
The list was compiled by a panel of nine judges including Tessa Jowell MP and the broadcaster Gabby Logan to mark International Women’s Day last Saturday, with each individual rated on extent of their reach, power in multiple spheres, how they use their power, and achievements.
Four-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington has long been a campaigner for gender equality in sport, and recently scored a major coup by successfully pressing for the addition of a women’s race to this year’s Tour de France, to be held on 27 July and finishing on the Champs-Elysées in Paris.
Her latest challenge is the Three Peaks challenge with a twist, called the ‘4321 Challenge‘: her and three pals are aiming to run up the UK’s three highest mountains (Scafell Pike, Snowden and Ben Nevis) in 48 hours – relying on bikes to travel between them.
Other names on the Guardian’s top 50 list include BSkyB’s director of cycling Tricia Thompson, cyclists Laura Trott and Sarah Storey, Olympic swimmer Becky Adlington and the BBC’s director of sport, Barbara Slater. For the full list head over to the Guardian.
Who do you think is the most influential woman in UK sport? Let us know in the comments below!
220 Triathlon Team
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