An exclusive interview with Chris McCormack

by Brian Mahony on 18 Jun, 2011 04:51 • Español

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Macca sits down for a chat with us in his first ITU race since 2004

Sit back and watch this candid, no holds barred interview with Australian legend Chris McCormack. In a frank conversation before his comeback race in Kitzbühel this weekend, McCormack is his normal open and honest self covering some hot topics, including his return to ITU racing and his quest for Olympic selection.

‘Macca’ also discusses how he first started in the sport, his early races, the evolution of his career, the disappointment of not making the Australian Olympic team and his greatest achievements. He’s forthright about his move from ITU to Ironman and back again, and McCormack also talks about what he feels is needed if anybody is to topple the Brownlees and Gomez in London.

Full live video coverage of the event can be found on www.triathlonlive.tv.

McCormack quickly rose to become world number one after first appearing on the professional triathlon circuit in 1996. Having won almost every major standard distance global triathlon event, Macca was the first male triathlete to win both the ITU World Championships and ITU World Cup Series in the same year. In 2002, Macca shifted his attention to long distance competition where his success continued, becoming Ironman World Champion in 2007 and 2010.

Some excerpts from the interview:

My wife calls this my midlife crisis. I’m not buying a fast car, I’m returning to the fastest most competitive triathlon racing in the world.

To bring my children to an Olympic games, for my career to go full circle, to finish where it started, I could walk away from the sport on the day of that closing ceremony. IT would be a dream come through – a fairytale.

I know what I’m capable of, I know that Javier, the Brownlees, the German kids, they’re quicker than I was when I was at my best, but what I know I have got, it’s that I’ve got nothing to lose, and somebody who’s got nothing to lose can be very, very dangerous.

Sit back and enjoy this extended interview with Chris McCormack.

Follow every movement live through Triathlon’s live online TV feed, or through live audio and text updates, both at www.triathlonlive.tv. Follow on Twitter at twitter.com/triathlonlive.

The elite men’s race starts at 14:30 (local time) on Saturday 18 June.
Click here to view the men’s start list
The elite women take over Kitzbühel on Sunday, starting at 12:30 local time.
Click here to view the women’s start list

Article tags world championship series kitzbuhel kitzbuehel ironman chris mccormack