She recorded a time of 8hours 19min 13sec to beat her own previous mark by 12min 46sec, and won the Challenge Roth event by over half-an-hour from Australia’s Rebecca Keat.

Wellington, 33, is the reigning World Ironman Champion, having won the title for the third year in a row in Hawaii last October.

She was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list last month with an MBE and her performance today represented her ninth win from nine iron-distance starts.

She obliterated her 2009 world record of 8:31:59, which was also set in Roth.

Wellington’s recorded an incredible time of 2:48:54 for the 26.2 mile marathon after completing a 3,800 metres swim and record breaking 112mile bike ride was the fastest ever achieved in an iron-distance triathlon.

She said: "I’m overjoyed, yet overwhelmed.

"Hopefully I have redefined the limits for myself, and for others, of what is possible.

"It has been one of the best days of my life.

"Challenge Roth epitomises everything that is great about triathlon.

"For once I'm lacking the words to describe how I feel.



"I never thought that I would be able to break my own world record, and to do it has made me so incredibly happy and proud.

"I really didn't think that I could break the world record, but I've shown now that truly anything is possible.

"I'm so happy."

Wellington, a former Government worker, had been investigating the option of trying to qualify for Britain's cycling team at the London 2012 Olympics because the ironman is not part of the Games.

She had injured herself seriously at the start of the year when she crashed while cycling.

Wellington may still look towards London 2012 after redefining ironman.

She said: "We're narrowing the gap between the men and women, and that's really important.

"I never thought 8:19 was possible.

"Hopefully that's helped to promote triathlon and promote the growth of women in sport and that's something that I'm really proud to do."

Keat said: "Chrissie was just...I don't know.

"The boys have to look out for her now.

"I have to try to beat her but I don't know what we can do."


Related stories
January 2010: Wellington has emergency surgery after bike crash
November 2009: Wellington voted Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year
October 2009: Wellington ready to take up cycling for London 2012
October 2009: Wellington sets course record in Hawaii to win third world title