Hollie May Avil (born 12 April 1990) is an English former

triathlete A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the time transitioning between the d ...

who was the European and World junior triathlon champion in 2007 and U23 World Champion in 2009. She is the youngest athlete ever to be on the podium at successive debut

World Cup A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the concept i ...

races and the youngest triathlete to have ever been ranked World Number One at only 18 years old. Still to this day, Avil is the youngest triathlete to have competed in the Olympic Games. In 2007 Avil was shortlisted for BBC Young Sports Personality of the year. In 2008, she was crowned British Olympic Association Triathlete of the Year. Avil competed in

triathlon A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of Swimming (sport), swimming, Cycle sport, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the t ...

at the

2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Na ...

but did not finish the race. Like her coach, Bright's, other athlete,

Tim Don Timothy Philip Don (born 14 January 1978 in Isleworth, London) is a triathlete from the United Kingdom. Career Don is the son of former Premier League referee Philip Don. He competed in the London Youth Games where he represented Hounslow in ...

, she suffered a sickness that caused her continual vomiting and weakness during the race. During the bike section, Avil had to retire. Avil started her degree at

Loughborough University Loughborough University (abbreviated as ''Lough'' or ''Lboro'' for post-nominals) is a public research university in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It has been a university since 1966, but it dates back to 1909, when L ...

shortly after her Olympic journey in summer of 2008. Her 2009 season started with disappointment at the Madrid World Championship Series as she failed to finish the race due to mechanical problems with her bike. However, Avil's 2009 season ended on a high as she was crowned U23 World Champion on the Gold Coast, Australia. In December 2011, Avil was one of 12 British female sporting celebrities who posed for Clara Maidment a charity calendar in aid of

Wellbeing of Women Wellbeing of Women is the only UK charity dedicated to funding research, education and advocacy across all of women's reproductive and gynaecological health, including menstruation, fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, gynaecological cancers, menopaus ...

, in the lingerie of

Nichole de Carle Nichole de Carle is a British fashion designer best known for her lingerie and swimwear brand of the same name. Personal life De Carle was born in Leicestershire. She graduated with a BA in Contour Fashion from De Montfort University in 2005. ...

, wearing jewellery by

Salima Hughes Salima may refer to: People * Salima Aga Khan (born 1940), ex-wife of Prince Karim Aga Khan * Salima Ghezali (born 1958), an Algerian journalist and writer * Salima Hamouche (born 1984), an Algerian volleyball player * Salima Hashmi, a Pakistan ...

and

Coster Diamonds Royal Coster Diamonds is the oldest, still operating, diamond polishing factory in the world, located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 1840, they have handled a few historical masterpieces. For example, they re-polished the Koh i Noor, whic ...

. In May 2012, Avil announced her retirement from competitive sport following her recovery from an eating disorder. In late 2012 Avil moved to Singapore to pursue a career in sports marketing and event management. Avil works as a relationship manager for Manchester United, for three years based in Hong Kong, returning in 2019 to rejoin UK operations.

References

External links

* 1990 births Living people British female triathletes English female triathletes Triathletes at the 2008 Summer Olympics Olympic triathletes of Great Britain Sportspeople from Northampton Alumni of Loughborough University {{UK-triathlon-bio-stub