Professor Sarah Springman CBE was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at last week’s Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year awards in London.
Sarah stepped down as President of British Triathlon on 31 December 2012 after celebrating Team GB’s first triathlon medals won at the Olympic Games in London last year.
Sarah commented during the awards night; “I think I’m only about thirty something so I really feel it’s a bit early, but I’m obviously delighted. Creating opportunities for athletes has been really important. Last year’s Olympics and winning Governing Body of the Year [was one of the highlights].”
As an athlete, Sarah amassed an amazing 21 elite ETU European Championship medals in triathlon (all distances) and duathlon, including three individual and five team golds, as well as finishing fifth at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships in 1985 and 1987 and the Nice International Triathlon in 1985.
She was the ITU Winter World Triathlon Champion in her age-group in 2006 and a bronze medallist in the Vancouver Sprint Triathlon in 2008.
In addition to her career as an athlete, Sarah was pivotal in her role as British Triathlon President and ITU Vice-President – and the successful lobbying for the inclusion of triathlon in the sport programme of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games as well as the more recent inclusion of paratriathlon into the Paralympic Programme.
Ian Howard, President of British Triathlon was delighted that Sarah received the award. “Sarah is the face of British Triathlon. Ever since she competed in the very first BTA organised event in Reading in 1983 she has promoted the sport domestically and internationally through her own outstanding competitive achievements, her leadership of the British Triathlon Federation and her international influence.”
He continued, “She is currently 1st Vice-President of the International Triathlon Union and paratriathlon is now part of the Paralympic Games and this is largely down to Sarah’s unrelenting drive.”
The award was presented to Sarah by four-time Ironman World Champion, Chrissie Wellington MBE who commented “This woman has left such an enduring legacy; she played a pivotal role in getting triathlon at the Olympics. She changed the face of triathlon and changed the face of sport generally.”
The overall Sportswoman of the Year award went to Christine Ohuruogu; with cyclist, Becky James, in second. Non Stanford was third, as a further reward for a fine season that saw her achieve podium finishes at all but one of her ITU World Triathlon Series races and ultimately lift the world title in London.
Stanford is nominated for further awards, the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year and the BT Action Woman of the Year.
