John Levison

John Levison

Chief Correspondent
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.

John Levison is an experienced triathlon writer, analyst and event commentator who has been a key member of the TRI247 team for more that 15 years now. Previously Editor of the leading UK-based triathlon publisher, he now holds the title of Chief Correspondent. 

Having studied Banking and Finance at Loughborough University from 1990 to 1994, it was at the renowned sports-focused venue that John’s triathlon journey began, when he joined the University triathlon club on arrival. 

An ‘enthusiastic amateur’ athlete, John raced in triathlon events over a 25-year period across all distances, including four iron-distance finishes and representing the Great Britain Age-Group team in 2001 (Fredericia, Denmark) and 2008 (Vancouver, Canada). In running, he also achieved a sub three-hour marathon clocking in London in 2002. 

After a career in finance and banking in London, working for British Airways, Barclays and Union Bank of Switzerland, John joined TRI247 shortly after its launch. He has a strong background in event reporting, interviews, analysis, opinion and colour features. He is renowned for his attention to detail, and extensive knowledge on the history of the sport. 

John was a key part of the TRI247 team that won the 220 ‘Triathlon Website of the Year’ award for six consecutive years, and listeners of the MX Endurance podcast voted John the Triathlon Media Person of the Year in 2021. 

John’s knowledge and passion for the sport has also seen him become one of the most familiar voices at major triathlon events through his commentary work, both on-site announcing and livestream broadcast. This has included every major World Triathlon Series event in the UK since 2010 (London, Nottingham, Leeds, Sunderland), two Commonwealth Games (Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022), the 2018 Glasgow European Championships, the 2015 Baku European Games in Azerbaijan and many more.  

His livestream and broadcast clients have included the BBC, IRONMAN, Challenge Family and Europe Triathlon, covering all distances and formats of the sport, including paratriathlon. 

In addition to event commentary, John has hosted many awards dinners for both British Triathlon and Europe Triathlon, hosted Q&As at Triathlon Shows and was the MC for the British Olympic Association triathlon team announcement ahead of Rio 2016. He was the subject of an extended interview with the IMTalk podcast in June 2023. 

Laura Philipp IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai 2022 banner

IRONMAN South Africa 2023: Start time, preview and how to follow live

Chelsea Sodaro Bob De Wolf photo credit BMC

Highs, lows and loss: Bob De Wolf reflects on an incredible 2022 for BMC Pro Triathlon

Lionel Sanders Arena Games Montreal Swim

WATCH AGAIN: The finals at Arena Games Triathlon Montreal 2023

Challenge Mogan-Gran Canaria 2022 - Sara Perez Sala run

Volcano Triathlon 2023: Kate Curran, Dieter Comhair take Lanzarote wins

PTO European Open 2023 Ibiza

PTO make key changes as European Open heads to Ibiza for 2023

Lesley Paterson ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships Shelby County 2012

BAFTAs success for XTERRA World Champion Lesley Paterson

Sebastian Kienle Challenge Wanaka 2023 RaceRanger

Taking on Drafting: Athletes react positively to RaceRanger Challenge Wanaka test

Challenge Wanaka 2023 Jack Moody

Challenge Wanaka 2023 titles captured by Jack Moody and Grace Thek

Super League Triathlon acquires New York and Chicago Triathlons

Lucy Charles-Barclay Gustav Iden 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship

PTO World Rankings – do they even matter?

Ruth Astle Outlaw Half Holkham 2021

Ruth Astle on how the athletes changed the PTO Rankings process

Kristian Blummenfelt and Ashleigh Gentle

New PTO World Ranking System revealed

Katrina Matthews Army Sportswoman of the Year Award 2022

The rise of Kat Matthews and ‘the moment everything changed’

Hayden Wilde

Hayden Wilde makes switch from Specialized to Canyon

Chris-Nikic-kona-2022-run-finish

IRONMAN announces new 2023 Global Competition Rules

Kat Matthews Canyon

Statement of intent from Canyon – but Specialized scale back

Hamburg 2019 / Jacob Birtwhistle

IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania 2023: Preview, course and how to follow live

Sebastian Kienle

Scary dreams and Zombie Hill – Sebastian Kienle’s Norseman challenge

Justus Nieschlag Kraichgau banner Photo Credit Andre Trunk for A-Team Sportsmanagement

Nieschlag switches to middle-distance, Paris hopes on hold

On Running - Paula Findlay, Kristian Blummenfelt, Chelsea Sodaro

Let’s get it ON. On Running signs Blummenfelt, Sodaro and Findlay

Lesley Paterson - ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships 2018

The triathlon world champ making Oscars headlines in Hollywood

Olympic Games Mixed Relay Triathlon Tokyo 2020

How to qualify for British Triathlon’s Paris 2024 Olympic team

Blummenfelt Duffy Iden Global Triathlon Awards photo credit World Triathlon

Global Triathlon Awards 2023: Iden and Duffy named Triathletes of the Year

CORK, IRELAND - AUGUST 14: Svenja Thoes of Germany reacts after winning the women’s race at IRONMAN Ireland, Cork on August 14, 2022 in Cork, Ireland. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

Svenja Thoes reinstated as IRONMAN Ireland 2022 winner

Dan Dixon - Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

British Triathlon World Class Programme 2023 announced

RaceRanger triathlon drafting technology

RaceRanger draft detection system goes into competition this weekend

Flora Duffy Georgia Taylor Brown Abu Dhabi 2022 photo credit Wagner Araujo World Triathlon

Who will win the inaugural Global Triathlon Awards?

Dorian Coninx / Kristian Blummenfelt - World Triathlon Bergen 2022

2023 WTCS Schedule extended – but Bergen World Cup removed

Anne Haug / Kristian Blummenfelt - PTO 2022 Rankings winners

PTO Rankings 2022: Haug and Blummenfelt top the year-end standings

DATEV Challenge Roth 2022 - Laura Siddall swim

‘It made me think that I’m not over yet’ – Laura Siddall reflects on 2022

Laura Siddall, Nice, France

‘Once the dust settles, I think people will get behind it’: Laura Siddall on Nice news

IRONMAN 70.3 Pucon 2023 logo

IRONMAN 70.3 Pucon 2023: Benito Lopez, Riveros dominate in Chile

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games - John Levison, Lauren Steadman, Dan Bardell

My triathlon highlight of the year: Birmingham 2022

Nicola Spirig

2022 Year in Review: Thanks for the memories

Sebastian Kienle

‘Build a bigger pier in Kona’ – Sebi Kienle’s wishlist ahead of final year

Hayden Wilde Penalty Commonwealth Games Triathlon Birmingham 2022

2022 Year in Review: Penalty Dramas

Team Wales Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022 Mixed Team Relay

2022 Year in Review: ‘Silver linings’

Daniela Ryf IRONMAN World Championship St George

2022 Year in Review: Most dominant victories of the season

Tilda Månsson / 2022 World Junior Triathlon Championship, Montreal

2022 Year in Review: Best Breakthrough Acts

Chelsea Sodaro Bob De Wolf photo credit BMC

Sodaro and Matthews move on as BMC Pro Triathlon announce 2023 team

12-14 Apr 2024
New Zealand
Long Course Weekend New Zealand
20 Apr 2024
Spain
Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria
27 Apr 2024
Chinese Taipei
Challenge Taiwan
27 Apr 2024
Spain
Club La Santa Volcano Triathlon
11 May 2024
Spain
IRONMAN 70.3 Alcudia-Mallorca
2 Jun 2024
Spain
Challenge Salou
9 Jun 2024
Great Britain
Challenge Wales
23 Jun 2024
Austria
Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee
21-23 Jun 2024
Great Britain
Long Course Weekend Wales
30 Jun 2024
France
Challenge Cagnes-sur-Mer
6-7 Jul 2024
Great Britain
Outlaw Half Holkham
14 Jul 2024
Spain
IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz
17 Aug 2024
Sweden
IRONMAN Kalmar
18 Aug 2024
Denmark
IRONMAN Copenhagen
1 Sep 2024
Germany
IRONMAN 70.3 Duisburg
ALL EVENTS
8 Dec 2023
Bahrain
IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain
9 Dec 2023
New Zealand
IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo
7 Jan 2024
Chile
IRONMAN 70.3 Pucon
4 Feb 2024
Australia
IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania
17 Feb 2024
New Zealand
Challenge Wanaka
18 Feb 2024
Thailand
IRONMAN 70.3 Bangsaen
24 Feb 2024
New Zealand
XTERRA Wellington Festival
24-25 Feb 2024
New Zealand
World Triathlon Cup Napier
2 Mar 2024
New Zealand
IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand
2 Mar 2024
New Zealand
IRONMAN New Zealand
8-9 Mar 2024
United Arab Emirates
World Triathlon Championship Series Abu Dhabi
9-10 Mar 2024
New Zealand
World Triathlon Cup New Plymouth
17 Mar 2024
Chile
Challenge Puerto Varas
17 Mar 2024
Mexico
IRONMAN 70.3 Campeche
24 Mar 2024
Australia
IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong
ALL EVENTS