Search
shop

Lucy Gossage talks “imposter syndrome” after Downing Street invite to International Women’s Day event

Former triathlete, a 14-time IRONMAN champion, thought email summons to No 10 was "spam"
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Lucy Gossage is a trained cancer doctor, a 14-time IRONMAN champion, and now an elite ultrarunner as the winner of the gruelling 2025 Spine Race.

So there are probably few people more deserving of an invite to meet the Prime Minister to mark International Women’s Day.

But Gossage admits she thought all was not as it seemed when she found an email in her inbox summoning her to Downing Street on Tuesday.

“In disbelief”

In a post on her Instagram the morning after, she said: “I was invited to 10 Downing Street for a reception with the prime minister and an incredible group of women for international women’s day….and I’m still a bit in disbelief.

“When I saw the email in my inbox I thought it was spam. How on earth would anyone in Downing Street know about me and secondly, even if they did, how would they get my personal email address to contact me?

“But the email domains checked out and Google told me they’d hosted similar events before so I threw on a dress, brushed my hair and took a train to London.

“Even when I arrived, I still wasn’t sure the invitation was real until I saw other women holding their paper invitations, many just as puzzled as I was.

Lucy Gossage finish line wall Montane Winter Spine Race 2025 [Photo credit: Wild Aperture Photography / The Spine Race]
[Photo credit: Wild Aperture Photography / The Spine Race]

“I’m still not sure why or how I was invited and I’d love to know how they found my name. But what matters is accepting that it’s ok to be proud that I was.

“One thing I learned last night is that so many amazing women deal with imposter syndrome. Maybe we all need to work on accepting that it’s okay to be proud of our achievements.”

Gossage joined guests including Olympic legend Dame Kelly Holmes and actor Anna Maxwell Martin, alongside faith leaders, musicians, lawyers and others at a reception hosted by Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Sir Keir Starmer.

“Felt like speed dating”

She said: “I’m not someone who finds small talk and mingling with strangers easy but last night was different. It felt like speed dating with a group of the most incredible and diverse women you could imagine – game changers in every sense.

“On the train home I googled the women I chatted with and their achievements far outshone our brief conversations. Maybe that’s a common trait for awesome women – we often struggle to showcase or articulate our achievements. So many of them wondered how they had made the list, yet when they told me their stories, it was obvious. I guess perhaps they thought the same about me.

“Angela Rayner, Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer all gave short, powerful speeches. But one thing Rachel said stuck with me: ‘None of us got here by chance or by fluke or as a token gesture. We all got here through tremendous hard work and courage’. And this morning, as I reflect I’m letting myself accept this.”

Gossage, 45, retired from triathlon in 2018 to focus on her job but has since pursued ultra running. She came third on her debut in the 268-mile Montane Winter Spine Race last year, winning this year’s event in January.

Paul Brown
Written by
Paul Brown
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Georgia Taylor Brown Santa Vall gravel race 2025 photo credit Santa Vall and Gravel Earth Series
Kate Waugh and Georgia Taylor-Brown among strong British line-up at T100 London
Triathlon superstar Hayden Wilde to make shock comeback at London T100
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘Intimidating’ to go into Worlds after four months off – but Lionel Sanders up for the challenge
Georgia Taylor-Brown Alex Yee Super League Triathlon Malibu 2021
Triathlon’s most decorated Olympic duo now honoured by their former University
Olav Aleksander Bu Photo credit: Roj Ferman | Surpas
Top triathlon coach Olav Aleksander Bu says it’s all about the team after Uno-X bag first Tour de France win
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

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.

£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

£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...