Erin Baker
Encyclopedia
Erin Baker MBE
(born 23 May 1961) is a New Zealand triathlete
.
Baker is a well known, female athlete who for years dominated the Olympic distance and Ironman
triathlon circuit. She was known for her outstanding performances in triathlon disciplines and won many World titles, World Championships and Ironman titles.
, New Zealand. Upon the suggestion by her mother Mary, Erin began running competitively at age 15 and showed ability right from the start. "I remember the first day Erin competed in a cross-country race. I was waiting for her to come in thinking God, she won't be very pleased because she hasn’t done very well. In fact, I missed her crossing the finish line a quarter of an hour earlier, in first place." This competitiveness and desire has been evident in Erin from an early age and her hunger, victory and ambition was a characteristic of her later success.
Baker is one of eight children. Her siblings include Phillipa Baker (New Zealand rower and 1991 Halberg award winner) and Kathy and Maureen who were both national titlists in swimming and aerobics, proving Erin comes from a very talented sporting family.
In 1981 she was convicted of throwing explosive devices while protesting during the South African Rugby team tour of New Zealand
. This act prevented her from entering the United States
for several years, restricting her from competing in any American competitions. Baker was also known for her protests at the Hawaii Ironman
competitions when she rebelled against the notion of the winner of the men’s division receiving a car and the women’s division winner receiving nothing for her efforts. She voiced her opinions on numerous occasions and as a result was well known as a controversial athlete
With a remarkable career under her belt, she finished her triathlon stint in 1994 with an extraordinary record of 104 wins from 121 triathlons entered. (Romanos, 2006).
Erin Baker was named “Triathlete of the decade” by American magazine Triathlete. The magazine commented on Erin’s success by saying “We’ve stopped trying to figure Erin out, we just accept her as the best female triathlete that ever lived” (Palenski & Romanos, 2000).
, New Zealand with her husband and fellow triathlete Scott Molina
. Together she and Scott (nicknamed Skid) have two children; Miguel and Tandia.
Baker has also served as a councillor on the Christchurch City Council
, and has served on the Canterbury District Health Board and on the boards of Jade Stadium Ltd and Christchurch and Canterbury Marketing Ltd.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 23 May 1961) is a New Zealand triathlete
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
.
Baker is a well known, female athlete who for years dominated the Olympic distance and Ironman
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
triathlon circuit. She was known for her outstanding performances in triathlon disciplines and won many World titles, World Championships and Ironman titles.
Early life
Baker was born in 1961 in KaiapoiKaiapoi
Kaiapoi is a town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, located close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, and approximately 17 kilometres north of Christchurch....
, New Zealand. Upon the suggestion by her mother Mary, Erin began running competitively at age 15 and showed ability right from the start. "I remember the first day Erin competed in a cross-country race. I was waiting for her to come in thinking God, she won't be very pleased because she hasn’t done very well. In fact, I missed her crossing the finish line a quarter of an hour earlier, in first place." This competitiveness and desire has been evident in Erin from an early age and her hunger, victory and ambition was a characteristic of her later success.
Baker is one of eight children. Her siblings include Phillipa Baker (New Zealand rower and 1991 Halberg award winner) and Kathy and Maureen who were both national titlists in swimming and aerobics, proving Erin comes from a very talented sporting family.
Competitive career
Baker was originally coached by John Hellemans but controlled and developed her successful career by self-training, “I was self-trained. I just trained as much as my body would handle, and that was a shit load. I trained and trained, and I trained more if I had time. I never got injured so I would often do more in case somebody else was training while I was resting”. This quote only highlights the sheer determination of the woman and the competitive desire to win at all costs, even if the costs were physical.In 1981 she was convicted of throwing explosive devices while protesting during the South African Rugby team tour of New Zealand
1981 Springbok Tour
The 1981 South African rugby union tour of New Zealand was a controversial tour of New Zealand by the South Africa national rugby union team, known as "the Springboks"...
. This act prevented her from entering the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for several years, restricting her from competing in any American competitions. Baker was also known for her protests at the Hawaii Ironman
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
competitions when she rebelled against the notion of the winner of the men’s division receiving a car and the women’s division winner receiving nothing for her efforts. She voiced her opinions on numerous occasions and as a result was well known as a controversial athlete
With a remarkable career under her belt, she finished her triathlon stint in 1994 with an extraordinary record of 104 wins from 121 triathlons entered. (Romanos, 2006).
Erin Baker was named “Triathlete of the decade” by American magazine Triathlete. The magazine commented on Erin’s success by saying “We’ve stopped trying to figure Erin out, we just accept her as the best female triathlete that ever lived” (Palenski & Romanos, 2000).
Results
- 1984 entered and won her first ever triathlon in Sydney
- 1985 won the world middle distance championship in Nice, France
- 1986 New Zealand Ironman female winner (8.26.3)
- 1986 Won the world middle distance championship in Nice, France
- 1987 New Zealand Iron Man female winner (8.17.3)
- 1987 Winner of female division at Ford Ironman championships in Hawaii (shattered previous course record)
- 1987 Winner of the world short course title
- 1988 Won the world middle distance championship in Nice, France
- 1988 Winner of the world short course title
- 1988 Won World Championships (Olympic distance) in Canada
- 1988 Winner of the world short course title
- 1989 Named New Zealand Sportsperson of the year at Halberg awards
- 1990 Won the Women's demonstration TriathlonTriathlonA triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
at the 1990 Commonwealth Games1990 Commonwealth GamesThe 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand's 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. Participants competed in ten sports: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, judo,...
; competed in Women's 10,000 m in National championships - 1990 Winner of female division at Ford Ironman championships in Hawaii
- 1990 New Zealand Ironman female winner (9.38.3)
- 1991 Won the World Duathlon title
- 1994 New Zealand Ironman female winner (9.54.1)
- 1994 Retired as a professional athlete
- 1995 Inducted in the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
- Winner of 9 Ironman titles
Post triathlon career
Baker now lives in ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand with her husband and fellow triathlete Scott Molina
Scott Molina
Scott Molina is a retired triathlete. His most memorable performances took place at the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii. The peak of his career coincided with the going out of Dave Scott and coming in of Mark Allen, both 6 time Ironman world champions. Molina won Ironman World...
. Together she and Scott (nicknamed Skid) have two children; Miguel and Tandia.
Baker has also served as a councillor on the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
, and has served on the Canterbury District Health Board and on the boards of Jade Stadium Ltd and Christchurch and Canterbury Marketing Ltd.
Sources
- Heidenstrom, Peter (1992) Athletes of the Century: 100 years of New Zealand track and field (GP Publications, Wellington) ISBN 1869560442
- Romanos, J. (2006) New Zealand’s top 100 sports history-makers Wellington: Trio Books Limited.
- Palenski, R. & Romanos, J. (2000) Champions: New Zealand sports greats of the 20th century Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett Publishers ISBN 1869588134
- SMACKDOWN!: Who Are the Top Three Female Triathletes of All Time? - Inside Triathlon
- (Retrieved on March 16th 2008)
- (Retrieved March 16th 2008)