Non Stanford

Non Stanford has built a reputation as one of Britain’s finest short course triathletes. The Welsh star, who was born in Bridgend and grew up in Swansea, started life as a cross country runner and took the Welsh Schools 1,500m title for three consecutive years from 2002-2004 and was third in 3,000m at the AAA Indoor Championships as a senior in 2006.

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However, a change of scenery as she moved to study for a degree in Sports and Exercise Science at the University of Birmingham also meant a change of focus. A running injury made Non decide to take up swimming and she was encouraged to join the University’s triathlon club. She did and never looked back.

Non came second in the British Triathlon Super Series in 2009 and was given the Paul Weston Triathlon Scholarship which allowed her to focus on the sport. After taking bronze at the Premium European Cup in Brasschaat, Non relocated to Leeds to be part of the British Triathlon set-up that included Jonathan and Alistair Brownlee.

In 2012 she took gold in the Mixed Relay World Championships in Stockholm and the Under-23 ITU World Championships to really announce herself on the world stage. But even more was to come in 2013 as she won WTS Madrid and was crowned World Champion with a brilliant performance at the Grand Final in London.

After an entire year out with injury, Non bounced back in 2015 to finish second at the Rio Olympics Test event and the ITU Grand Final in Chicago and book her place at the 2016 Olympic Games. She went into the event in form after a win at WTS Cape Town and in the Rio Olympics was involved in a sprint finish with her friend, teammate and flatmate Vicky Holland, which she narrowly lost to finish fourth.

Non had an up and down 2018 and 2019 with injury issues but also fine performances with a win at WTS Hamburg and the honour of captaining Team Wales at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Non is now coached by Joel Filliol and splits her time between the UK and Australia. She is engaged to Australian professional triathlete Aaron Royle, and has expressed plans for 2022 to be her final professional season. However, her 2022 season has, thus far, been exceptionally successful. She won a silver medal as part of the Team Wales Mixed Relay team at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Then, just a week later, took the European Championship title in Munich, at the very same venue that will host the Super League Championship later this year.