Welsh Triathlon would like to join British Triathlon in extending our congratulations to Non Stanford for her appointment as an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Non has had a significant impact on triathlon in Wales and Great Britain, and recorded some incredible achievements over her time as a triathlete. This award is richly deserved.
Non became the first woman to become the U23 World Triathlon Champion and senior World Champion in consecutive years, winning the Grand Final in London 2013, to follow up her U23 title from Auckland in 2012. She won 21 senior medals at World Triathlon events across both individual and relay events, and in 2016 she represented Team GB at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, narrowly missing out on a medal as she finished fourth. In 2018, Non was named as Team Wales captain for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where she was highly commended for her inspiring leadership of the team.
In 2022, her final season, she crowned her incredible career by anchoring the Welsh team to the incredible silver medal in the team relay, before going on to become the European Champion just two weeks later in Munich.
Outside the competition arena, Non is widely respected by her peers, having been elected to a number of athletes’ commissions, representing and advocating for the rights and opinions of the athletes. These appointments include the British Olympic Association Athletes’ Commission, the World Triathlon Athlete Committee, and the World Triathlon Environmental Sustainability Committee. Non has been a vocal advocate of participation in swim, bike, run and been a role model to many across Wales and the whole of Britain. As a senior athlete, she has also played a key role in guiding the development of the next generation of British triathletes.
Talking about her latest achievement, Non said “It was a lovely but very unexpected surprise to be awarded an MBE. It feels ironic to be recognised for my contributions to triathlon, when I feel like triathlon is the one that has given me so much. It's a great honour and something I will always be proud of.”
Welsh Triathlon Chair, Martin Kitchener, commends “Non is and continues to be an inspiration to many aspiring athletes in and around Wales. Not only for her racing triumphs but also her involvement and dedication to the sport as a whole. This achievement is a worthy recognition for everything that she does. Massive congratulations to Non from myself and the whole Triathlon community in and around Wales."
Following her retirement from competition in 2022, Non has taken up a role at British Triathlon’s Performance Centre in Leeds where she continues to use her knowledge and experience with current world-leading athletes as well as elite athletes of the future. She undertook her coaching qualification prior to her final season and has been an invaluable member of the coaching set up in Leeds.
“I'm really enjoying being on the other side of the fence; giving back to a sport that gave me so much. I still loved triathlon when I retired and I wasn't ready to completely leave the sport so it's been the perfect transition away from being an elite athlete myself.”
Her next biggest adventure will be attending the Kraków-Małopolska 2023 European Games taking place later this week (21 June to 2 July). This will be Non’s first Games as she retires from being a triathlete and transitions to a coach.
“I expect it will be very different being in a Games environment as a coach rather than as an athlete. But I feel like I can draw on my own experiences as an athlete to make sure the current athletes are as prepared as possible and given the best opportunities to deliver the performances they are looking for. I know what made a difference for me around competition and so I will hope to deliver the same level of support that I experienced to the athletes.”
Welsh Triathlon’s Performance Head Coach, Luke Watson, will be leading the coaching team in Kraków and had this to say, “I would like to congratulate Non on this amazing award. It is well deserved for her achievements both on and off the race course. Both her and Helen (Jenkins, who was also made MBE in 2019) have had a massive impact in the sport of triathlon, and there’s no coincidence that the current generation of British female athletes are thriving as a result. I am really looking forward to coaching with Non in her first major Games assignment on the other side of the barrier, and I am sure she will continue to have a great impact on those she works with in this new role.”
Fellow Commonwealth Silver Medallist Olivia Mathias was selected to compete in the Kraków-Małopolska 2023 European Games, however unfortunately Mathias will not be able to compete due to injury. We wish her all the best in her recovery and for the rest of the season.
Congratulations again to Non! Welsh Triathlon is looking forward to continuing to celebrate her success.
