Video profile: John McAvoy – Bank Robber turned Ironman

John McAvoy's life was saved by sport while in prison for armed robbery. He found Ironman via Trans World Sport, and now he's part of that iconic programme
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Advertisement

Trans World Sport profile John McAvoy

Earlier this year we reviewed the book, Redemption – From Iron Bars to Ironman, the story of John McAvoy. At the time, we said:

Every now and then you hear people say they had a book so good that they couldn’t put it down. Well, that’s what happened to me when I got a sent a press copy of the book, Redemption.

John’s life has recently been featured in this extended Trans World Sport profile, a story of which John himself says, “sport saved my life”.
John McAvoy - REDEMPTION: Form Iron Bars to Ironman

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
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.
Discover more
Challenge Sardinia location
Let’s race… Challenge Forte Village Sardinia
Are calf sleeves actually worth it for triathletes? How many watts aero calf compression sleeves could save you
Laura Siddall Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon 2023
Are we in a triathlon boom, or hurtling towards burnout? Laura Siddall on the growth of the sport
Is sports nutrition bad for you? Ultra-processed foods are under siege, and athletes are caught in the cross fire – but should we be worried?
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
The ultimate city break triathlon race-cations: from Challenge Barcelona to Singapore T100 these are the best city centre races to combine multisport with sightseeing
latest News
Hayden Wilde joy Qatar T100 Grand Final 2025
A year in the life of a champion – how Hayden Wilde battled back from serious injury to dominate middle-distance triathlon
Matt Hauser joy WTCS Grand Final Wollongong 2025
Review of 2025: From injury fightback to debut delight – The men who dominated triathlon and took home the big prizes
Georgia Taylor-Brown London T100 post race
Why best-dressed Georgia Taylor-Brown has designs on making her mark again next season
Kat Matthews Solveig Lovseth IRONMAN Pro Series 2025
Review of 2025: The leading ladies who delivered drama, emotion and heartbreak across thrilling triathlon season
Alex Yee Valencia Marathon 2025
“It transcends anything I’ve felt before”: Alex Yee reflects on his epic Valencia Marathon display
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
247 Endurance

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...