The top 100 names on Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes – topped by boxer Floyd Mayweather – banked a cumulative £3.8billion over the past 12 months. You cannot filter by ‘gender’, but even if you could, there’d be no need. There’s not a women on it. For the first time since it launched six years ago, the latest list doesn’t include a single female.
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The Sunday Times Rich List is also spliced to provide a wealthiest sportsmen category, Rory McIlroy and Andy Murray top that one. But – with the clue in the name – the women again fail to register.
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If it proves anything, it’s that true gender equality with our sports stars is still generations away. It also brings into stark contrast how triathlon, in its own niche sports way, and with an insistence on equal prize money and profile from inception, has an enviable track record (albeit with some of the zeroes scratched off).
To illustrate, last year’s top two prize money earners were the ITU world champion Flora Duffy ($295k) and the Ironman world champion Daniela Ryf ($240k), according to the list compiled by race organisers Challenge. Of the top 100 triathletes, 49 were women.
It works because it’s not forced. The action, not gender, has always shaped the narrative, whether it was Julie Moss’s crawl in Hawaii in 1982 or the Iron War between Dave Scott and Mark Allen in 1989. The unexpected dominance of Chrissie Wellington from 2007 to 2011 or the emergence of a pair of Yorkshire brothers ahead of
the London Olympics.
It continues today. In this year’s ITU World Triathlon Series, the women’s race took focus in Bermuda because of home favourite Duffy. On to Leeds and the poster boys were naturally the Brownlees.
As a young sport, triathlon does have the advantage of not battling a traditional male-dominated legacy, but it still took the pluck and vision of the ITU’s founding president, the late Les McDonald – whose grandmother was a suffragette – to put the foundations in place, and there’s always work to do.
More men (61%) than women (39%) participate in the UK, according to the Triathlon Industry Association, so sponsors need to see both the bigger picture – and opportunity – when deciding on
their marketing budgets.
So too do organisers when it comes to professionals, which partly explains the opprobrium when the World Triathlon Corporation refuses to entertain an even number of men and women pros for the Ironman World Championship, or Super League Triathlon receives a backlash for not having a women’s race in its trial run.
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But these anomalies stick out precisely because they’re not the norm, and it’s a proud tradition that’ll be enhanced further when the mixed relay makes its bow in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. And perhaps, by then, the women
might even be competing on the anchor leg.
The top 100 names on Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes – topped by boxer Floyd Mayweather – banked a cumulative £3.8billion over the past 12 months. You cannot filter by ‘gender’, but even if you could, there’d be no need. There’s not a women on it. For the first time since it launched six years ago, the latest list doesn’t include a single female.
Advertisement
The Sunday Times Rich List is also spliced to provide a wealthiest sportsmen category, Rory McIlroy and Andy Murray top that one. But – with the clue in the name – the women again fail to register.
If it proves anything, it’s that true gender equality with our sports stars is still generations away. It also brings into stark contrast how triathlon, in its own niche sports way, and with an insistence on equal prize money and profile from inception, has an enviable track record (albeit with some of the zeroes scratched off).
To illustrate, last year’s top two prize money earners were the ITU world champion Flora Duffy ($295k) and the Ironman world champion Daniela Ryf ($240k), according to the list compiled by race organisers Challenge. Of the top 100 triathletes, 49 were women.
It works because it’s not forced. The action, not gender, has always shaped the narrative, whether it was Julie Moss’s crawl in Hawaii in 1982 or the Iron War between Dave Scott and Mark Allen in 1989. The unexpected dominance of Chrissie Wellington from 2007 to 2011 or the emergence of a pair of Yorkshire brothers ahead of
the London Olympics.
It continues today. In this year’s ITU World Triathlon Series, the women’s race took focus in Bermuda because of home favourite Duffy. On to Leeds and the poster boys were naturally the Brownlees.
As a young sport, triathlon does have the advantage of not battling a traditional male-dominated legacy, but it still took the pluck and vision of the ITU’s founding president, the late Les McDonald – whose grandmother was a suffragette – to put the foundations in place, and there’s always work to do.
More men (61%) than women (39%) participate in the UK, according to the Triathlon Industry Association, so sponsors need to see both the bigger picture – and opportunity – when deciding on
their marketing budgets.
So too do organisers when it comes to professionals, which partly explains the opprobrium when the World Triathlon Corporation refuses to entertain an even number of men and women pros for the Ironman World Championship, or Super League Triathlon receives a backlash for not having a women’s race in its trial run.
Advertisement
But these anomalies stick out precisely because they’re not the norm, and it’s a proud tradition that’ll be enhanced further when the mixed relay makes its bow in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. And perhaps, by then, the women
might even be competing on the anchor leg.
When you’re given the chance to meet and swim with a bronze-medalist, you’d be daft to turn it down. Jack Cummings isn’t your average swimmer, though. After losing both his legs above the knee while working as a Bomb Disposal Officer in Afghanistan, swimming gave him a focus for his physical rehab, while the Invictus Games became a motivational force as his skills improved.
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So what is it like to learn to swim again – and to take that bronze medal? We met Jack at the Victory Swim, where he was swimming in open water for the first time and taking on a 1500m distance. The event was organised by the Felix Fund, a charity which supports the UK’s bomb disposal experts and the wider EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) community and their families. We also grabbed some time with Captain James Wadsworth, bomb disposal expert and founder of the Victory Swim, to find out more about how triathletes can get involved in the fund’s charity challenges.
220: Were you always a keen swimmer?
Jack Cummings: Well, I got my 25m badge when I was a kid! My mum and dad took me to the pool growing up and I like to think I took to the water pretty well as a kid, but not so much as a teenager! Sport for me was more about keeping fit. I was a keen footballer and used to play most sports but didn’t excel in any particular. I did everything from swimming, to cricket to football.
When I joined the army we had to do our military swim test which was to jump off the 5m board in full rig and then swim to the end and back again – not too far. It was more when I got injured and taken to Headley Court [the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre] that I went back to the pool. Obviously I couldn’t run any more, so it was really good exercise for me to start swimming and burn off some calories.
Headley Court was great because they offered me a whole range of disabled sports from swimming to wheelchair basketball. I also learned to handbike and I try to go out at least three or four times a week – weather permitting in England!
220: How important was swimming in your recovery?
Jack: It’s been a huge part of my rehab. Otherwise I’d have been just sat on the sofa watching Jeremy Kyle or something – it’s got me out and I’ve lost a load of weight. I was in a coma for a month so I lost everything in terms of muscle. I went from an able-bodied lad to a skeleton basically – and the doctors and nurses panicked and kept telling me I needed to eat, so I put on a load of weight!
We had the hydropool at Headley Court which was a small pool where I started. It was about finding that balance point again first because obviously I lost both legs above the knee, but for some reason I float better now! Yeah, it was all about starting from scratch though.
It took a while to get into it and I had to build up the distance starting with a couple of lengths at first – but by the time I left Headley I was up to a mile, which I was really happy with.
220 Triathlon’s Editor Helen Webster chats to Jack Cummings about ahead of this year’s Victory Swim
220: How did you get involved in the Invictus Games?
Jack: The letter from Invictus came and I spoke to my wife Sarah and she said ‘go for it!’. I went for swimming and archery. I’m not really an archer though, more a swimmer! I did 50m free and 50m breaststroke and got bronze in the breaststroke.
The Invictus Games gave me an aim. I never gave up, it’s just I didn’t have anything to aim for and Invictus gave me the motivation to go for something. It was great watching the guys from previous years and I thought well if they can do it, then I can do it too! They inspired me and I hope I can do the same for others.
I swim in the local pool with the old girls in the morning and they always say hello and cheer me on. I feel like I’m able-bodied again because I’m zooming past everyone. It’s great, it keeps me focussed. I’m up at 5:30am every day, do an hour in the gym from 6am and then I’m in the pool from 7am.
The lake is a brand new environment for me! I’m doing 1500m today… Go big or go home! I’ll switch between front crawl and breaststroke.
220: What next? Have you been tempted to pursue Paratriathlon?
Jack: I don’t think so! I did the Royal Marines Rehab Tri with Joe Townsend and he blew me out of the water! It was great to see him go from where he was to being an elite – that takes a different type of dedication. Joe is absolutely amazing. He’s the marine machine!
I’m on the reserve list for the next Invictus Games. Hopefully I’ll get called up. I wouldn’t rule out doing another triathlon too, maybe a half-Ironman, something like that. Like I said, I do the handbike already so I’ve got two out of three – and I’m used to pushing a wheelchair so that’s doable as the third!
Jack Cummings exists the water after the 1500m Victory Swim. Image: Jo’s Photos https://www.facebook.com/memoriesforsharing/posts/
220: How has the Felix Fund helped you?
Jack: The Felix Fund is a bomb disposal charity. I was part of a search team, so searching for bombs and IEDs. If we found one, then they’d come and snip the wire and defuse the bomb. The Felix Fund have done loads to support me and my wife – we’ve been to events such as carol services and they’ve supported us financially too, by buying a load of adapted furniture for our house, so they’ve looked after us that way as well. They’re not a huge charity, but they’re always in touch and looking after us.
As well as last week’s Victory Swim, the Felix Fund host a series of sporting challenges triathletes can get involved in, spearheaded by ammunition technician Captain James Wadsworth who counts the Rat Race series, Ironmans, the Marathon de Sables, Land’s End to John O’Groats on a bike and other endurance events amongst his fundraising achievements.
220’s Editor at the Victory Swim with Captain James Wadsworth, who next year will attempt the Channel Swim amongst other endurance challenges to raise funds and awareness for the Felix Fund.
We asked Captain Wadsworth what’s next: “I’m building up to 2019 at the moment. Between the 4-8th June we are doing the Castle Cycle Ride from Edinburgh, via Windsor to Cardiff. Following that I’m doing the Frankfurt Ironman, then I’ve got a small break before the Channel Swim attempt from 13-19th September, which is daunting right now! After that we’ve got a running event on 12th October which is open to anyone of any ability from 5km to 100km. Halfway through September (date TBC) will be our Felix Festival, where we pitch a big tent in the middle of nowhere and you can come along and enjoy a beer and some good food and music!
“Felix Fund supports the IED community and I’ve worked within this area for my whole career. Around the time of Northern Ireland but also of Iraq and Afghanistan I was operating in those countries and I lost friends who were killed in those operations and I had friends and colleagues that were injured. We now have people who are still suffering with mental and physical injuries and while I am still (relatively!) able-bodied I want to raise money and awareness so I do as many events as I can and encourage others to join me.”
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Find out more about the Felix Fund here and get involved with the sporting challenge events organised by Captain James Wadsworth here.
When you’re given the chance to meet and swim with a bronze-medalist, you’d be daft to turn it down. Jack Cummings isn’t your average swimmer, though. After losing both his legs above the knee while working as a Bomb Disposal Officer in Afghanistan, swimming gave him a focus for his physical rehab, while the Invictus Games became a motivational force as his skills improved.
Advertisement
So what is it like to learn to swim again – and to take that bronze medal? We met Jack at the Victory Swim, where he was swimming in open water for the first time and taking on a 1500m distance. The event was organised by the Felix Fund, a charity which supports the UK’s bomb disposal experts and the wider EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) community and their families. We also grabbed some time with Captain James Wadsworth, bomb disposal expert and founder of the Victory Swim, to find out more about how triathletes can get involved in the fund’s charity challenges.
220: Were you always a keen swimmer?
Jack Cummings: Well, I got my 25m badge when I was a kid! My mum and dad took me to the pool growing up and I like to think I took to the water pretty well as a kid, but not so much as a teenager! Sport for me was more about keeping fit. I was a keen footballer and used to play most sports but didn’t excel in any particular. I did everything from swimming, to cricket to football.
When I joined the army we had to do our military swim test which was to jump off the 5m board in full rig and then swim to the end and back again – not too far. It was more when I got injured and taken to Headley Court [the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre] that I went back to the pool. Obviously I couldn’t run any more, so it was really good exercise for me to start swimming and burn off some calories.
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Headley Court was great because they offered me a whole range of disabled sports from swimming to wheelchair basketball. I also learned to handbike and I try to go out at least three or four times a week – weather permitting in England!
220: How important was swimming in your recovery?
Jack: It’s been a huge part of my rehab. Otherwise I’d have been just sat on the sofa watching Jeremy Kyle or something – it’s got me out and I’ve lost a load of weight. I was in a coma for a month so I lost everything in terms of muscle. I went from an able-bodied lad to a skeleton basically – and the doctors and nurses panicked and kept telling me I needed to eat, so I put on a load of weight!
We had the hydropool at Headley Court which was a small pool where I started. It was about finding that balance point again first because obviously I lost both legs above the knee, but for some reason I float better now! Yeah, it was all about starting from scratch though.
It took a while to get into it and I had to build up the distance starting with a couple of lengths at first – but by the time I left Headley I was up to a mile, which I was really happy with.
220 Triathlon’s Editor Helen Webster chats to Jack Cummings about ahead of this year’s Victory Swim
220: How did you get involved in the Invictus Games?
Jack: The letter from Invictus came and I spoke to my wife Sarah and she said ‘go for it!’. I went for swimming and archery. I’m not really an archer though, more a swimmer! I did 50m free and 50m breaststroke and got bronze in the breaststroke.
The Invictus Games gave me an aim. I never gave up, it’s just I didn’t have anything to aim for and Invictus gave me the motivation to go for something. It was great watching the guys from previous years and I thought well if they can do it, then I can do it too! They inspired me and I hope I can do the same for others.
I swim in the local pool with the old girls in the morning and they always say hello and cheer me on. I feel like I’m able-bodied again because I’m zooming past everyone. It’s great, it keeps me focussed. I’m up at 5:30am every day, do an hour in the gym from 6am and then I’m in the pool from 7am.
The lake is a brand new environment for me! I’m doing 1500m today… Go big or go home! I’ll switch between front crawl and breaststroke.
220: What next? Have you been tempted to pursue Paratriathlon?
Jack: I don’t think so! I did the Royal Marines Rehab Tri with Joe Townsend and he blew me out of the water! It was great to see him go from where he was to being an elite – that takes a different type of dedication. Joe is absolutely amazing. He’s the marine machine!
I’m on the reserve list for the next Invictus Games. Hopefully I’ll get called up. I wouldn’t rule out doing another triathlon too, maybe a half-Ironman, something like that. Like I said, I do the handbike already so I’ve got two out of three – and I’m used to pushing a wheelchair so that’s doable as the third!
Jack Cummings exists the water after the 1500m Victory Swim. Image: Jo’s Photos https://www.facebook.com/memoriesforsharing/posts/
220: How has the Felix Fund helped you?
Jack: The Felix Fund is a bomb disposal charity. I was part of a search team, so searching for bombs and IEDs. If we found one, then they’d come and snip the wire and defuse the bomb. The Felix Fund have done loads to support me and my wife – we’ve been to events such as carol services and they’ve supported us financially too, by buying a load of adapted furniture for our house, so they’ve looked after us that way as well. They’re not a huge charity, but they’re always in touch and looking after us.
As well as last week’s Victory Swim, the Felix Fund host a series of sporting challenges triathletes can get involved in, spearheaded by ammunition technician Captain James Wadsworth who counts the Rat Race series, Ironmans, the Marathon de Sables, Land’s End to John O’Groats on a bike and other endurance events amongst his fundraising achievements.
220’s Editor at the Victory Swim with Captain James Wadsworth, who next year will attempt the Channel Swim amongst other endurance challenges to raise funds and awareness for the Felix Fund.
We asked Captain Wadsworth what’s next: “I’m building up to 2019 at the moment. Between the 4-8th June we are doing the Castle Cycle Ride from Edinburgh, via Windsor to Cardiff. Following that I’m doing the Frankfurt Ironman, then I’ve got a small break before the Channel Swim attempt from 13-19th September, which is daunting right now! After that we’ve got a running event on 12th October which is open to anyone of any ability from 5km to 100km. Halfway through September (date TBC) will be our Felix Festival, where we pitch a big tent in the middle of nowhere and you can come along and enjoy a beer and some good food and music!
“Felix Fund supports the IED community and I’ve worked within this area for my whole career. Around the time of Northern Ireland but also of Iraq and Afghanistan I was operating in those countries and I lost friends who were killed in those operations and I had friends and colleagues that were injured. We now have people who are still suffering with mental and physical injuries and while I am still (relatively!) able-bodied I want to raise money and awareness so I do as many events as I can and encourage others to join me.”
Advertisement
Find out more about the Felix Fund here and get involved with the sporting challenge events organised by Captain James Wadsworth here.
The double Ironman World Champion and newly-crowned Ironman 70.3 World Champ, Jan Frodeno, has announced on Instagram that he has pulled out of Kona due to a stress fracture.
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Certainly not how I hoped this season would end. A stress fracture in my hip (SI joint)- see pic 2 for those interested. The highs and lows of sport have never been so close for me- winning a world title last week and being sidelined for the season the next. At least the @_promovement team kept the spirits going;) (last pic). Just a reminder to all of us that success never comes in a straight line… currently listening to Daft Punk- One More Time, so see you all next year
The double Ironman World Champion and newly-crowned Ironman 70.3 World Champ, Jan Frodeno, has announced on Instagram that he has pulled out of Kona due to a stress fracture.
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View this post on Instagram
Certainly not how I hoped this season would end. A stress fracture in my hip (SI joint)- see pic 2 for those interested. The highs and lows of sport have never been so close for me- winning a world title last week and being sidelined for the season the next. At least the @_promovement team kept the spirits going;) (last pic). Just a reminder to all of us that success never comes in a straight line… currently listening to Daft Punk- One More Time, so see you all next year
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Registrations for the legendary triathlon and festival weekend, the Wildflower Experience 2019, are open now. The event returned in 2018 after the drought in Northern California ended, and the organisers hope the race will reach its original peak numbers in 2019.
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The Wildflower Experience weekend boasts a full line-up of triathlon race distances, several run events, a music festival, stand up paddle board events, and a three-day Outdoor Yoga Experience on May 3-5, 2019 at Lake San Antonio in Monterey County, California.
Demand for the event is expected to be high and registration for all events is open at www.wildflowerexperience.com. Early bird rates are applicable until the 9th of October. The website contains more information about the weekend of events and camping and nearby lodging. New events will also be announced in the coming months.
In addition to the marquee long course race (1.9km swim/90km bike/21.1km run), the three-day endurance triathlon festival also includes Olympic Distance, On-Road Sprint and Off-Road Sprint triathlons, a Collegiate Championship, 5K/10K run, 10 mile trail run, SUP race and a variety of yoga classes and workshops. Additionally, participants can experience live bands, a beer garden, race clinics, exhibitor booths and outdoor activities throughout the weekend.
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Wildflower started as a music festival in the early 1980’s before growing into an annual tri event, attracting thousands of participants and spectators. Over the years, the event has created a passionate and dedicated following amongst triathlon enthusiasts, many of whom flock to the California Central Coast each year to soak in the intimate setting. The unique atmosphere at Lake San Antonio led eight-time Ironman world champ Paula Newby-Fraser, a five-time winner of Wildflower, to dub the event as the “Woodstock of Triathlon.”
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Registrations for the legendary triathlon and festival weekend, the Wildflower Experience 2019, are open now. The event returned in 2018 after the drought in Northern California ended, and the organisers hope the race will reach its original peak numbers in 2019.
Advertisement
The Wildflower Experience weekend boasts a full line-up of triathlon race distances, several run events, a music festival, stand up paddle board events, and a three-day Outdoor Yoga Experience on May 3-5, 2019 at Lake San Antonio in Monterey County, California.
Demand for the event is expected to be high and registration for all events is open at www.wildflowerexperience.com. Early bird rates are applicable until the 9th of October. The website contains more information about the weekend of events and camping and nearby lodging. New events will also be announced in the coming months.
In addition to the marquee long course race (1.9km swim/90km bike/21.1km run), the three-day endurance triathlon festival also includes Olympic Distance, On-Road Sprint and Off-Road Sprint triathlons, a Collegiate Championship, 5K/10K run, 10 mile trail run, SUP race and a variety of yoga classes and workshops. Additionally, participants can experience live bands, a beer garden, race clinics, exhibitor booths and outdoor activities throughout the weekend.
Advertisement
Wildflower started as a music festival in the early 1980’s before growing into an annual tri event, attracting thousands of participants and spectators. Over the years, the event has created a passionate and dedicated following amongst triathlon enthusiasts, many of whom flock to the California Central Coast each year to soak in the intimate setting. The unique atmosphere at Lake San Antonio led eight-time Ironman world champ Paula Newby-Fraser, a five-time winner of Wildflower, to dub the event as the “Woodstock of Triathlon.”
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