Macca wins 2012 ITU Long Course World Championship

Chris "Macca" McCormack has become the 2012 ITU Long Distance World Champion after his victory in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain over the weekend. The 39 year old covered the long course distance (4km swim, 120km bike and 30km run) in 5hrs 29min 47sec, edging out Spaniard Eneko Llanos in second, and Dirk Bockel from Luxembourg in third.

Macca (centre) on the podium with Eneko Llanos (L) and Dirk Bockel (R)

His impressive win comes just months after failing to make the Australian Men's Triathlon Team - perhaps the only box Macca hasn't been able to tick in his long list of athletic achievements. Despite the disappointment of not joining Courtney Atkinson, Brendan Sexton and Brad Kahlefeldt in London, his training and preparation for the Olympic trials were not in vain.

"I've never done this race before, and you know I just tried to make the Olympics so I knew I had a lot of speed, but this is a great distance for me" Macca told the International Triathlon Union.

Since not making the Australian Olympic team Macca has shifted his focus, and is expected to appear alongside Craig Alexander at the 2012 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii - an event has has won twice before in 2007 and 2010. This recent win has given Macca a surge of confidence, as he broadcast via his Facebook fan page:

"Pretty happy about that. Nice return to Long Course racing today. That Olympic Distance speed was awesome. Felt easy! Bring on Kona!!!!!"