SANDERS Gillian

Date of Birth: 15 Oct 1981

Age: 39

Gender: Female

Place of birth: PIETERMARITZBURG

Birth Country:

South Africa

Place of residence : LONDON

Residence Country:

Great Britain

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Triathlon	Women's Individual	LAP

Schedule

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Odaiba Marine Park	Women's Individual	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Olympic Games

Year	Location	Individual
2016	Rio de Janeiro, BRA	23
2012	London, GBR	19

World Triathlon Series - Overview

Year	Event	Standings	Three best ranks per season
2020	Individual Ranking	53rd	1 x 53rd
2019	Individual Ranking	56th	1 x 29th, 1 x 30th, 1 x 31st
2018	Individual Ranking	73rd	1 x 41st, 1 x 45th
2017	Individual Ranking	23rd	1 x 9th, 2 x 15th, 1 x 20th
2016	Individual Ranking	43rd	1 x 9th, 1 x 18th, 1 x 39th
2015	Individual Ranking	45th	1 x 5th, 1 x 24th, 1 x 32nd
2014	Individual Ranking	35th	1 x 10th, 1 x 15th, 1 x 24th
2013	Individual Ranking	55th	1 x 12th, 1 x 37th, 1 x 46th
2012	Individual Ranking	32nd	1 x 10th, 1 x 17th, 1 x 19th
2011	Individual Ranking	68th	1 x 23rd, 2 x 45th

World Triathlon Series - Ten best performances since 2017

Rank	Year	Event	Competition	Location	Result
5	2015	Individual	World Triathlon Championship Series	Yokohama, JPN	1:59:19
9	2017	Sprint	World Triathlon Championship Series	Gold Coast, QLD, AUS	58:37
9	2016	Sprint	World Triathlon Championship Series	Edmonton, AB, CAN	57:37
10	2014	Individual	World Triathlon Championship Series	Yokohama, JPN	2:00:20
10	2012	Individual	World Triathlon Championship Series	Yokohama, JPN	2:00:29
12	2013	Individual	World Triathlon Championship Series	Yokohama, JPN	1:59:33
15	2017	Individual	World Triathlon Championship Series	Stockholm, SWE	2:05:48
15	2017	Sprint	World Triathlon Championship Series	Hamburg, GER	1:00:31
15	2014	Individual	World Triathlon Championship Series	Cape Town, RSA	1:48:59
17	2012	Sprint	World Triathlon Championship Series	Hamburg, GER	57:30

World Championships Mixed Relay

Year	Location	Relay X
2019	Hamburg, GER	LAP
2018	Hamburg, GER	15
2017	Hamburg, GER	7
2016	Hamburg, GER	6
2015	Hamburg, GER	13
2013	Hamburg, GER	14
2012	Stockholm, SWE	17
2011	Lausanne, SUI	15

African Championships

Year	Location	Individual
2021	Sharm El Sheikh, EGY	2
2019	Plaine Magnien, MRI	1
2018	Rabat, MAR	1
2017	Hammamet, TUN	1

World Cup overview - Three best ranks per season and event since 2017

Year	Individual	Sprint
2021	1 x 26th	-
2020	-	1 x 30th, 1 x 33rd
2019	1 x 13th, 1 x 29th	1 x 5th, 1 x 25th, 1 x 27th
2018	1 x 6th	1 x 15th, 1 x 18th
2017	-	1 x 15th, 1 x 28th

World Cup - Ten best performances since 2017

Rank	Year	Event	Competition	Location	Result
5	2019	Sprint	World Cup	Cape Town, RSA	58:10
6	2018	Individual	World Cup	Astana, KAZ	1:58:36
13	2019	Individual	World Cup	Nur-Sultan, KAZ	1:59:14
15	2018	Sprint	World Cup	Salinas, ECU	59:12
15	2017	Sprint	World Cup	Cagliari, ITA	1:03:47
18	2018	Sprint	World Cup	Cape Town, RSA	1:01:35
25	2019	Sprint	World Cup	Tongyeong, KOR	58:37
26	2021	Individual	World Cup	Lisbon, POR	2:03:31
27	2019	Sprint	World Cup	Banyoles, ESP	57:45
28	2017	Sprint	World Cup	New Plymouth, NZL	1:05:10

World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series

Rank	Year	Event	Competition	Location	Result
8	2019	Relay	World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series	Tokyo, JPN	1:28:49
15	2019	Relay	World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series	Abu Dhabi, UAE	1:26:57
15	2018	Relay	World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series	Nottingham, GBR	1:26:15

Legend
X - Mixed, IP - In Progress, DNF - Did Not Finish, DNS - Did Not Start, DSQ - Disqualified

Previous names:

Hiking, snorkeling. (leopard.voyage, 09 Nov 2019)

Occupation:

Law - Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Husband Mark Sanders

Languages spoken:

Afrikaans, English

Optima Racing Team [London, GBR]

James Beckinsale, GBR

Sporting relatives:

Her parents were both athletes and represented South Africa. Her father competed in several world triathlon championships and ultra-marathons, and her mother was a sprinter. Her older sister Rowena has also represented South Africa in triathlon, competing at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, AB, Canada. Her husband Mark Sanders has played cricket at provincial level in South Africa. (SportsDeskOnline, 30 Jun 2021; amanziswimwear.com, 15 Aug 2013; gilliansanders.com, 25 Feb 2015; Black and White Sports YouTube Channel, 09 May 2020)

In March 2018 she broke several ribs and injured her shoulder in a bike accident, ruling her out for several weeks. (Black and White Sports YouTube Channel, 09 May 2020)

She was diagnosed with anaemia in 2011, but after receiving the correct supplementation to her diet she was able to continue with triathlon. (gilliansanders.com, 23 Apr 2012; smeltzerdietitians.com, 20 Jan 2015)

She completed her first triathlon at age nine. (gilliansanders.com, 25 Feb 2015)

She grew up in a sports oriented family and was a natural runner and swimmer. (gilliansanders.com, 25 Feb 2015)

To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (Instagram profile, 17 Jun 2021)

Winning silver in the mixed relay event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and earning selection for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (Instagram profile, 17 Jun 2021; Black and White Sports YouTube Channel, 09 May 2020)

South African triathlete Dominique Donner, British triathlete Simon Lessing. (Black and White Sports YouTube Channel, 09 May 2020)

Her husband. (orleanspark.richmond.sch.uk, 16 May 2014)

Philosophy:

"Great love and great achievements involve great risk." (amanziswimwear.com, 15 Aug 2013)

General Interest

General
LEGAL CAREER ON HOLD
She became interested in a career as a lawyer at age 16 after spending time working in a law firm. She was encouraged by her parents to get her degree and then consider a sports career afterwards. She put her triathlon career on hold while she completed her law degree at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, while competing in the 1500m in athletics and resumed the sport after finishing her studies. After moving to London, England, in 2008 initially to work at a law firm, she chose to focus on triathlon full-time. (gilliansanders.com, 25 Feb 2015; triathlon.org, 12 Jun 2016; LinkedIn profile, 01 Jun 2020)

Social Media

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event
LAP:: Lapped

Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos