Chris McCormack

History

Chris McCormack, known affectionately in the triathlete community as Macca, was born in Sydney, Australia. His parents, a dock worker and a teacher, trace their origins back to Scotland and New Zealand. His father was of Scottish ancestry and his mother descended from a noble Maori bloodline in New Zealand.

As a young student, Chris tackled multiple sports, including track and field, reveling in competition and eventually being named best athlete in the state. Chris won his first triathlon as an age grouper and continued on to Worlds as a junior and took 4th place. Strongly encouraged by his parents to return from Europe and finish college, in 1996 he completed a degree in accounting and took a desk job. Distinctly unhappy, Chris saved enough money to get back to Europe to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional triathlete.

Spurred on by a sarcastic chuckle from his prior boss, Chris was
driven to prove to himself and his family that his decision to chase
his dreams was the right choice. With the title of Ironman World
Champion under his belt, Chris knows that chasing your dreams,
following your passion, and taking risks are what makes a true champion.

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” —Mohammed Ali

Accomplishments

Chris McCormack began competing on international-distance courses in1996, winning both the 1997 Triathlon World Championships and the 1997 ITU World Cup Series; to date, no-one else has won both titles in a single year.

After shifting focus to longer distance racing he displayed exceptional aptitude for the distance winning many races. McCormack won Ironman Australia in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Twice he has finished the Quelle Challenge Roth, an Iron-Distance triathlon in under 8 hours, a feat only 5 other athletes have completed. In 2007 he won the Ironman World Championships. with a winning time of 8:15:34, including a 2:42 marathon in very hot conditions.

A Legend in the Sport…

• Ironman Hawaii World Champion
• ITU Olympic Distance World Champion
• ITU Triathlon World Cup Champion
• 11 x Ironman Champion
• 19 National Titles
• 7 x World Cup Champion
• Goodwill Games Gold Medalist
• 4 x Triathlete of the Year
• 2 x Competitor of the Year
• 4 x Escape from Alcatraz Champion
• 4 x Wildflower Half Ironman Champion

Core Values

Core Values are constant. They are the essential tenets of how we conduct ourselves – who we are, how we interact, the values that underlie our work and what strategies we utilize to fulfill our goals. They are the practices that articulate what we stand for and guide us in making choices.

Chris embodies the core values he was taught from childhood forward – honesty, integrity, trust and loyalty. He has strengthened and enhanced these values as an adult by incorporating honor, respect and service to others. These core values do not describe the work Chris does but rather describe who Chris is.

Chris believes with a strong conviction that every situation in which we find ourselves can be viewed through a lens of positivity. Problems, dilemmas, even catastrophes, require a shift in perception. They are opportunities in disguise, chances to learn valuable life lessons. Every single moment presents us with a chance to be a better person, to be the very best we can be. According to Chris, don’t waste a second, move forward with the fullest intention of achieving your dreams.

To share what he has learned through a strong commitment to his Core Values, Chris has set up the Macca Foundation to support others.

** Source: Chris McCormack: www.chrismccormack.com