Chris McCormack appointed Member of the Order of Australia

Chris McCormack has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division, recognising his distinguished service to sport through athletic achievement, athlete advocacy, youth participation and sporting innovation.

Announced in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List, the appointment acknowledges more than three decades of contribution to sport, an elite racing career, a sustained commitment to philanthropy and the creation of globally recognised sporting platforms that continue to shape participation and performance worldwide.

Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of triathlon, McCormack’s influence extends well beyond competition, through his work with the Pho3nix Foundation, the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Supertri and his leadership of the international sports and entertainment group Mana Group.

McCormack said the honour reflects not only his own journey, but also the many people who have contributed to it along the way.

 “To be recognised in this way is humbling. It was never something I set out to achieve. Sport has given me a life I could never have planned: it opened doors, took me around the world and surrounded me with extraordinary people. All I have ever tried to do is give something back to it.

“I have never been someone defined by titles and I’m not about to start now. What means the most to me is what this says about the sport itself and about the coaches, teammates, rivals, families and young athletes who are part of it. This recognition belongs to them as much as to me.”

A world champion across every format

McCormack’s racing career placed him among the finest athletes the sport has produced. He won the ITU (now World Triathlon) World Championship in 1997, before claiming the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona twice, in 2007 and 2010. He later added the ITU Long Distance World Championship in 2012, becoming one of the very few athletes to win world titles across multiple formats of the sport. Capturing more than 200 international race victories in his 2 decade career. ESPN recognised McCormack as the Most Valuable Endurance Athlete in 2009 following his fifth ESPY nomination and a decade spent among the world’s leading endurance athletes. 

His drive and his ability to deliver on the biggest stages helped raise the global profile of triathlon and inspired a generation to take up the sport. Yet his racing achievements represent only one chapter of a far broader contribution.

Inspiring the next generation through Pho3nix

McCormack’s commitment to youth participation is most clearly expressed through the Pho3nix Foundation. Created to encourage children to lead active, healthy lives, Pho3nix has grown into a global movement to broaden participation in sport and physical activity.

Through youth events, school-based programs, educational initiatives and athlete engagement, the foundation helps children discover the physical, mental and social rewards of movement. As one of the figures behind it, McCormack has helped build a platform that continues to touch the lives of thousands of young people around the world.

Championing inclusion through the Challenged Athletes Foundation

A long standing supporter of the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), McCormack has been a steadfast advocate for ensuring that physical challenge is never a barrier to sport. CAF provides funding for adaptive equipment, coaching, training and competition opportunities for people living with physical disabilities, helping thousands pursue active lives and realise their sporting ambitions.

Throughout his career he has used his standing in endurance sport to advance the foundation’s mission and to argue for greater accessibility and inclusion, reflecting a conviction that sport should be open to everyone, whatever their circumstance.

Reimagining the sport through Supertri

McCormack’s influence reaches beyond participation and philanthropy. As Co-Founder of Supertri, he helped reimagine how triathlon is presented to athletes, fans and broadcasters. Built around innovative race formats, fast paced competition and a modern broadcast model, Supertri has introduced the sport to new audiences while creating greater commercial opportunity for athletes and stakeholders. 

Continuing to shape the future of sport

As Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Mana Group, McCormack continues to work across sport, entertainment and participation, helping create opportunities for athletes, communities and future generations.

His appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia recognises a career spanning elite performance, philanthropy, entrepreneurship and sporting leadership. While his achievements in competition secured his place among triathlon’s greatest athletes, his work to broaden participation, support athlete pathways and develop new sporting platforms has left an equally significant mark on the global sporting landscape.

McCormack’s appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) is recorded in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List, published by the Office of the Governor-General, with his citation appearing on page 140 of the official list of AM recipients. The full honours list is available online.