Six-time Ironman World Champion Mark Allen is one of the most accomplished athletes triathlon has ever known. But in the launch of Limitless – the new women’s triathlon initiative created in partnership with TriDot – Allen is not positioning himself as the authority or even the story. Instead, he is doing something far more meaningful: shining the light squarely on the women who inspired him, shaped him, and ultimately made his career possible.
Mark Allen Isn’t Asking Why He Should Speak Up – He’s Explaining Why He Must
In a recent Instagram post, Allen wrote: “Some people have asked me why – as a man – I’m speaking out for women in triathlon. The answer is simple: because it’s right. But it’s also deeper than that. I owe the women in our sport more than I could ever repay.”
What follows is a tribute to the women who paved the way for him.
He credits Julie Moss, whose iconic crawl to the Kona finish line in 1982 didn’t just inspire millions, but sparked the question that launched his own journey: “Do I have that depth inside me?” He credits Erin Baker, whose uncompromising competitiveness and ferocity in training sharpened him ahead of the 1989 Ironwar. And he credits Chrissie Wellington, whose grace, purpose, and humility in retirement showed him what it means to leave the sport while still giving back to it.
Long before this initiative, Allen has also described himself as a “fan boy” of the sport’s great women, including Lucy Charles-Barclay, showing this is not new for him but an authentic truth he’s carried for years.
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Limitless Now Open
Registration for Limitless is now open. In partnership with TriDot, it’s a year-long initiative designed to grow women’s participation, confidence, and performance in triathlon. See the link in bio @markallengrip for more information!
The post Limitless Launches Today: Mark Allen Credits the Women of Triathlon as His Inspiration and as Leaders Who Have Driven the Sport Forward appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.