Simon Lessing

A nephew of Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing, Simon was born in South Africa but moved to Britain at age 18. He was one of the dominant Olympic distance triathletes in the 1990s, winning four world titles (1992, 1995, 1996 and 1998) as well as two silvers and a bronze. But when the triathlon celebrated its Olympic debut in Sydney, Lessing was no longer among the very best in this event, and he placed 9th in the Olympic competition. Lessing then turned his attention to the long distance triathlon, having won a world title in that event in 1995. He was won various events, mostly in the 70.3 or Half Ironman category.