Ironman Champion to recieve Honorary degree

Triple Ironman World Champion and University of Birmingham Sport (UBSport) alumna Chrissie Wellington is set to receive an honorary degree tomorrow (Wednesday, December 15), as a tribute to her work in both her passions: sport and international development. UBSport previously recognised her phenomenal achievements by awarding her the University of Birmingham's Sporting Achievement Award in 2007. The 1998 graduate will now become a Doctor of the University, which will fit nicely alongside her first class honours degree in BSc Geography, a distinction from her 2001 Masters in Development Studies from the University of Manchester and the MBE she was awarded in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours list. After working as a policy adviser to the UK Government agency DEFRA, specialising in International Development and Environmental Policy, Chrissie discovered her aptitude for triathlon whilst working in Nepal on a community led sanitation project. Being in Nepal gave her a good basis for altitude fitness as she would run and cycle the many hills of Kathmandu Valley, near where she was based. In February 2007 Chrissie decided to leave her role at DEFRA to concentrate on becoming a professional athlete. Within a year she became the first British athlete to win the World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii - a feat she repeated in 2008 and 2009 - and is currently undefeated at Ironman distance.