Wellington eyes Olympics after being named sportswoman of the year

RECORD-breaking triathlete Chrissie Wellington has revealed she is considering switching events in a bid to compete at London 2012 after she was named sportswoman of the year for 2009.

 HITTING THE ROAD: Chrissie Wellington may try her hand at road race cycling

The 32-year-old, who specialises in long-distance triathlons, won her third consecutive Ironman world title in October in a new world record time.

Wellington claimed the coveted award ahead of world heptathlon champion Jess Ennis, while Olympic and world champion cyclist Victoria Pendleton was third.

At present the Olympic triathlon, introduced onto the schedule at Sydney 2000 and covering 51.5km in total, is far shorter than the distances Wellington is used to, having completed 226.3km to secure her hat-trick of Ironman titles.  

But Wellington has hinted she may turn her attentions to road race cycling in a bid to make her Olympic bow at London 2012.

"British cycling has achieved phenomenal and deserved success over the last few years. It has gone from a minority to a mainstream sport," Wellington told the Daily Telegraph.

"I really love triathlon and the challenges it affords me, particularly the long distance racing.

"Having said that, I would be foolish not to consider trying other things and other challenges.

"I like new challenges -  2012 potentially. This is clearly the opportunity to try new things. I love to test myself and see what I am capable of."