Greg Welch
Encyclopedia
Gregory ("Greg") John Welch OAM
(born in 1964 in Campsie
, Sydney
, Australia
) is an Australian triathlete. He is acknowledged as one of the greatest triathletes due to his remarkable dominance in winning the "The Grand Slam" which includes the ITU Triathlon World Championships
(1990), The Ironman World Championship
(1994), the ITU Duathlon World Championships
(1993) and the Long Course Triathlon World Championship (1994). Greg was an ambassador to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) in 2000.
Due to his being diagnosed with Ventricular tachycardia
, he has undergone nine open-heart surgeries from 2001 until 2003 and has retired from sports. He maintains contact with triathlon through his work as an advisor, coach and commentator with the World Triathlon Corporation.
He is married to fellow Ironman triathlete Sian Welch.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born in 1964 in Campsie
Campsie, New South Wales
Campsie is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campsie is located 13 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, on the southern bank of the Cooks River. Campsie is the commercial and administrative centre of the City of...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) is an Australian triathlete. He is acknowledged as one of the greatest triathletes due to his remarkable dominance in winning the "The Grand Slam" which includes the ITU Triathlon World Championships
ITU Triathlon World Championships
The ITU Triathlon World Championships have been held annually since 1989, the same year as the formation of the International Triathlon Union – the world governing body of triathlon...
(1990), The Ironman World Championship
Ironman World Championship
The Ironman World Championship has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and is currently sponsored by Ford...
(1994), the ITU Duathlon World Championships
ITU Duathlon World Championships
The ITU Duathlon World Championships have been held annually since 1990. The championships involve a continuous run-cycle-run, with the format since 1994 being a first run of 10 km, a cycle of 40 km and a second run of 5 km . The championships are organised by the International...
(1993) and the Long Course Triathlon World Championship (1994). Greg was an ambassador to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) in 2000.
Due to his being diagnosed with Ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia is a tachycardia, or fast heart rhythm, that originates in one of the ventricles of the heart...
, he has undergone nine open-heart surgeries from 2001 until 2003 and has retired from sports. He maintains contact with triathlon through his work as an advisor, coach and commentator with the World Triathlon Corporation.
He is married to fellow Ironman triathlete Sian Welch.