World Triathlon

When it comes to sustained success over the course of a triathlon career, Australia’s Michellie Jones is the undisputed queen. From her first ITU World Championship in 1992, to a bronze medal in her final ITU World Championship race in 2003, she collected eight ITU World Championship podiums in her career. That’s including a three-year break from the circuit in the mid-90s. Only three times she did compete an ITU World Championship race and not make the podium, her debut race in 1990, and then in 1999 and 2002 when she finished fourth.

“If you had of asked me when I first started doing triathlon that I would have a couple of World Championships, an Olympic silver medal, I’d have the most medals by an Australian in World Championship events, I would have said ‘no way’,” Jones said.

“Back in 1992 I sort of knew that I had found my sport, and I’m glad my high school running coach suggested that I should do triathlon.”

Before that influential suggestion, Jones had been identified as a talented race-walker. But as told to Multisport Dreaming, she had grown on a farm where she had swam, rode horses and enjoyed running, she was a multisport athlete at heart. Starting University in Wollongong, Jones started to ride to the Cronulla Triathlon Club to train on weekends, around 65km. From 1990 she was making a living from triathlon.

While Jones’ early nineties were impressive, her feats when she returned to the scene in 1997 were even more so. In her first ITU World Cup race back she beat fellow Australian Emma Carney, something no other woman had done for two years.

One of Jones personal highlights came in that same year at the 1997 ITU World Championships, when she sustained deep cuts in her feet after clashing with another athlete’s bike in transition, but ran on to a bronze medal regardless.

“In Perth I got third and the three Australians who got first, second and third. I ended up having to get three stitches in one foot and four in the other. When I crossed the finish line I thought, I’ve got nothing left and then looked down at my feet and thought ‘oh my god’,” Jones said.

Three years later Jones’ silver medal in Sydney was the first for Australian in the Olympic triathlon event.

“I still remember the morning of the race, walking down and getting announced through the crowd and started crying because it was so emotional,” Jones said. “Then to win Australia’s first medal in the Olympics [of the Sydney Games] and also the first triathlon medal for Australia… when I show people my medal I still get chills about it.”

Outside of her ITU career, Jones became one of the most consistent athletes ever, with a win tally that is reported to be over 175 across Olympic, off-road and long-distance events.

“Triathlon is an awesome journey, it’s a life journey and it does teach you a lot about yourself,” Jones said. “I have so many good memories.”

ITU Career: 1991 - 2003
2x ITU World Champion (1992, 1993)
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games – silver medal
2 ITU World Championship silver medals (1998, 2001)
4 ITU World Championship bronze medals (1991, 1997, 2000, 2003)
12 ITU World Cup wins
2x ITU World Cup Series winner (1998, 2000)