British triathlete Michelle Dillon today announced her retirement from triathlon. Known as a dangerous threat on the bike and run, Dillon made her world cup debut in 1998 but has battled injuries throughout her career.
She came from an international running background when she ran for Australia at the 1994 Commonwealth Games at 21 years of age. Dillon’s personal best time was 31:40 for the 10,000m but was forced to hang up her shoes a short time later after enduring several stress fractures which would keep her from reaching her potential as a runner.
Dillon took up Duathlon in 1997 where she won the silver medal at the world championships in Gernika, Spain, just her second attempt in her new sport. At the age of 23, she decided to test the waters of triathlon and by 1998 she had won the European cup series in her debut year. As one of the strongest cyclists in the sport and a world class runner, the success continued and Dillon won her first world cup race in Noosa, Australia in 1999. The following year she made the British Olympic Team in Sydney and in 2001 she was crowned European champion. By 2002, Dillon was a regular contender on the world cup circuit and routinely finished inside the top-10. At the world championships that year in Cancun Dillon won bronze. Three world cup medals and a world cup title later, she finished sixth at the Athens Olympic Games, which stands as the best British triathlon result ever at an Olympic Games for a man or woman. World cup consistency and Duathlon world championships medals continued in 2005 and 2006. Dillon was still making the world cup podium as recently as 2007, in Madrid and Lisbon.
But after several years of back problems that has plagued her career, Dillon underwent serious back surgery of a double level fusion of her spine. She is now recovering well but has decided to call it a career at the age of 35.
“It is tough to hang up your shoes when you aren’t ready to do that. I felt like I was getting stronger each year and really wanted to continue as I felt like I never really got to reach my potential because I was always dealing with some sort of injury. On a positive note I do have some great memories of racing around the world. I’m also really enjoying coaching and working in my own business so still very much involved in the sport.”
Michelle Dillon Career Highlights: 1994 Commonwealth Games 10,000m (P.B is 31:40) 1997, 2001, & 2007 Silver Medal - ITU Duathlon World Championships 1999 1st place – Noosa ITU Triathlon World Cup 2000 Olympic Games Sydney 2001 Gold Medal - European Triathlon Champs 2002 Bronze Medal – ITU Triathlon World Championships 2002 1st place - The London Triathlon 2003 1st place - British Triathlon Championships 2004 1st place – Salford ITU Triathlon World Cup 2004 6th place - Olympic Games Athens 2005 1st Place - British Duathlon championships 2005 Gold Medal – ITU Duathlon World Championships 2007 1st place - The London Triathlon
