UTMB® World Series

Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB

Chiangmai Thailand by UTMB®

Arc of Attrition by UTMB®

Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB

Ultra-Trail Xiamen by UTMB®

Valhöll Fin del Mundo by UTMB

Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB

Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB®

Istria 100 by UTMB 

Desert RATS Trail Running Festival

Ultra-Trail Mount Yun by UTMB®

Grand Raid Ventoux by UTMB

The Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB®

Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB

Quindio Trail Colombia by UTMB

Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB

Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB

Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB®

Ultra-Trail Great Wall by UTMB®

Mountain Ultra Trail by UTMB

mozart 100 by UTMB

Trail du Saint Jacques by UTMB

Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB

Kaga Spa Trail Endurance 100 by UTMB

Torrencial Chile by UTMB

La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB

Western States® 100-Mile Endurance Run

HOKA Val D'Aran by UTMB®

Restonica Trail by UTMB®

Trail Verbier St Bernard by UTMB

Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB

Monte Rosa Walserwaeg by UTMB

Speedgoat Mountain Races

Quito Trail Ecuador by UTMB®

KAT100 by UTMB

HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc

Paraty Brazil by UTMB

Wildstrubel by UTMB®

Grindstone Trail Running Festival

Kaçkar by UTMB

Ultra Trail Whistler by UTMB

Chihuahua by UTMB®

Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB

Kullamannen by UTMB

Malaysia Ultra-Trail by UTMB 

Translantau by UTMB®

Puerto Vallarta by UTMB®

Mallorca

Ultra-Trail® Ninghai by UTMB

TransJeju by UTMB

Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB®

Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB®

Hoka

Dacia

Näak

Suunto

Night Blue

UTMB Legends celebrates individuals who have an exceptional record of success on the trails as well those that have made an outstanding contribution to UTMB since its inception in 2003. Recognizing the extraordinary talent of the runners who have graced the competition since the first edition, the 12 women and 11 men who have won the gruelling UTMB race, which crosses France, Italy and Switzerland, will become the first UTMB Legends.

Meet our Legends

UTMB Legends

Jim Walmsley, the American known as ‘the world's fastest ultra trailer’, is a model of perseverance. His career is marked by a series of prestigious victories, including four titles at the Western States, where he also set a race record. 
 
In 2022 after several unsuccessful attempts at gaining a foothold on the UTMB podium, he moved to France, settling in Beaufortain in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region alongside his friend and mentor François D'Haene, to devote himself fully to training. A choice that paid off in 2023, when he made history by becoming the first American man to win the UTMB in 19h 37min 43s. 
 
What characterizes him best is his total dedication to ultra-trail running, a discipline in which he has established himself as one of the best thanks to his unfailing determination.

"Perseverance is the key to victory."

Jim Walmsley

She runs fast, very fast, and has been breaking all the records over the last five years. In 2023, she won the Western States at the end of June and the Hard Rock 100 in mid-July, finishing in the Top 10 overall. With two victories in the UTMB® in 2019 and 2021, she notched up a 7th place overall and the best women's performance ever on the complete loop around Mont Blanc. Always smiling and relaxed, she gives an impression of ease and even takes the time during the race to brush her teeth at refreshment points. Courtney is just phenomenal.

"If you do your best, you can be the best. But the reverse is not true."

**UTMB Champion**
 
 
2023 / 2021 / 2019

Courtney Dauwalter

No one can overlook the Spaniard, the ultimate athlete, the man who has won everything in the world of trail running and ski mountaineering. He holds numerous trail and mountain records, and in 2017 climbed Everest twice without oxygen – an extraordinary feat.
Winner of the UTMB® when the event began 21 years ago, and again in 2009, 2011 and 2022. He turned the rules on their head by setting off in 2008 with a minimalist version of the compulsory equipment, but without infringing the rules.
Today, he is the undisputed 'King' of the discipline, and without doubt the man who has done most to advance the sport and its media profile.

"It's not a battle. Not everything is fair game."

**UTMB Champion**
 
 
2022 / 2011 / 2009 / 2008

Kilian Jornet

If it's not a European athlete winning, it's an American - eight wins out of 19 since 2003. Born in the United States, Katie has a doctorate in geology - she loves the mountains and nature, and enjoys the great outdoors, contemplating them to better understand them. For some years now, she has been living in France, in the Southern Alps. When she won the UTMB® in 2022, she took control of the race and managed to resist a comeback from Canadian Marianne Hogan.

"Racing is both a hobby and a profession". 

Katie Schide

François added his name to the list of winners in 2012 at the age of 27, having first come to prominence in the Lozère region where he worked as a physiotherapist. He didn't stop there however, adding three more victories in 2014, 2017 – after an historic duel with Kilian Jornet – and in 2021. From 2012 to 2021, he ran a wine business with his wife Carline. He has also won the Ultra du Mont-Fuji and four Diagonale des Fous events.

"In ultra, you have to be humble"

**UTMB Champion**
 
 
2021 / 2017 / 2014 / 2012

François D'Haene

Background Sample

UTMB Champion - 2021 / 2019

If you do your best, you can be the best. But the reverse is not true.

The Italian from Courmayeur was not predestined for trail running and endurance sports. More of a competitive snowboarder, she began competing at the age of 40 and quickly demonstrated her ability, winning numerous races ranging from 80 to over 300km – she was equally at ease on rolling and technical courses. In 2018, her success in the streets of Chamonix marked the culmination of a career as a great sportswoman.

"The key is that I didn't need to win to know who I was."

Francesca Canepa

In 2019, a second Spaniard added his name to the race's honours list. Pau led the race from the first kilometre and was not seen again by his rivals. Having won the TDS in 2016 and finished 3rd in the CCC in 2018, he became a professional athlete and built up his list of achievements winning the MIUT, the Transgrancanaria and the Lavaredo among other events. In 2020, the year of the pandemic, he attempted to complete the 2019 course again (20h19'07'') in a high-profile ‘breaking 20’ project without success.

"The mountains changed me as a person."

Pau Capell

With her infectious smile and her willingness to share her emotions, she thrills and brings tears to the eyes of the public at every race finish. In 2017, she won the UTMB® after arriving at night and famously waiting for her runner-up Andréa Huser who arrived less than 3 minutes later, to share the moment and send shivers down the spine of the spectators. She likes to finish all her races this way, and always flies the Catalan flag, often accompanied by her two children.

"It's a race so big it could eat you up."

Núria Picas

A wave of youthful insouciance spread through the event from 2008. After K. Jornet and F. D'Haene, it was the turn of the young cross-country skier Xavier Thévenard from the Jura region who won in 2013. In 2012, to everyone's surprise, he won the CCC at the age of 24. A guitarist in his spare time, he played a tune for a few moments during the prize-giving ceremony. Today, he is the only person to have won all four of the event's races (UTMB®, OCC, CCC and TDS) and he added two further UTMB® victories to his list of achievements in 2015 and 2018, earning him the nickname ‘Petit Prince of Mont-Blanc’.

"When someone smiles at you, you want to smile back."

**UTMB Champion**
 
 
2018 / 2015 / 2013

Xavier Thévenard

A former kayaker and member of the Swiss national team, Caroline made her debut on the trail running scene in 2012. A mother of three and a history and geography teacher in Switzerland, she spent five years at the highest level, winning the UTMB® in 2016, the World Trail Champion title the same year and the Hard Rock in 2017. During this heady period, she took part in several races, but chose to end her elite career in 2018. She continues to trail run and mountain bike and has just published her first novel.

"I've gone far enough in my suffering."

Caroline Chaverot

UTMB Champion- 2019

Who doesn't remember Ludo Pommeret's victory in 2016? From 53rd in Les Chapieux, he made a historic comeback to take the lead by Vallorcine and went on to win in Chamonix. This feat has since been known as ‘doing a Pommeret’! An IT specialist at Geneva airport and a builder in his spare time, he is as at home doing adventure races, ski mountaineering and trail running as he is with a screwdriver or a shovel. 
Always accompanied by his wife Céline and daughters, he has made his mark on some of the world's greatest races, from Hong Kong to the Reunion Islands, via the United States.

"I'm a small craftsman in trail country"

Ludovic Pommeret

The French health executive and mother of two is from a region in the west of France where there are no mountains. She arrived on the running scene aged 40, having already clocked up a sub-3-hour marathon time. She persevered, discovered her athletic qualities, and spent 10 years at the highest level. She joined the French national team and became Trail World Champion in 2013 and again in 2015, winning the UTMB® that year.

"I've been through a moment suspended in time."

Nathalie Mauclair

2010 was a special edition, won by a British runner. The race was plagued by unpredictable weather with heavy rain causing mudslides that forced organisers to suspend racing after Les Contamines. There was a restart the following day from Courmayeur for a further 89km for runners who wished to continue racing. Jez Bragg, 3rd in the 2009 Western States, added his name to the list of winners in this shortened event.

"I was always blown away by the simple fact of being in the Alps."

Jez Bragg

Who doesn't remember Rory Bosio's double victory? Her incredible win in 2013 and 7th place overall. On that day, the American achieved the second-best female performance of all time. In 2014, she repeated her performance with a remarkable run in the middle of the night in Courmayeur, where she set the race alight with former winner Vincent Delebarre. She returned in 2019 to finish 8th and then switched from trail running to mountain biking.

"I like the idea of it being an adventure."

Rory Bosio

UTMB Champion- 2015

I've been through a moment suspended in time.

Lizzy arrived at her first UTMB® event in 2005 with no real training, just a summer of walking in the mountains. The Brit has raced the event six times, finishing second once in 2009, and winning the event five times in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012). To date she holds the absolute record, and her domination earned her the nickname ‘Queen of the Mountains’. She also won the 100km World Championship in 2006, setting a 24-hour record, but this nature-lover has now given up running and lives between Switzerland and Nepal.

"I've never really reached my limit."

**UTMB Champion**
 
2012 / 2011 / 2010 / 2008 / 2005

Lizzy Hawker

Marco made his mark on the event twice winning in 2006 and 2007, aged 57 and 58 respectively. In 2005, he finished 3rd. Shy and reserved, he raced the old-fashioned way, at his own pace, with his watch and road shoes. Low profile and almost nonchalant, the Italian vegetarian quarry worker had an efficient style and is the only Transalpine to have won the event to date. He is also remembered for his famous multicoloured tights, which were just as legendary.

"Hard work was part of life in our valleys."

Marco Olmo

The first edition run in Dantesque conditions saw a 25-year-old American crowned. Only 67 runners finished the race in Chamonix. She went on to become an ultra-distance specialist, winning the Hard Rock in 2007, returning to Chamonix in 2009 to claim her second victory in under 25 hours, and winning the Mount Fuji Ultra in 2013.

"There aren't many problems in life that a long run can't solve."

Krissy Moehl

Christophe became the only Swiss runner to win the race in 2005. He left his mark on trail running in the 90s and 2000s with numerous victories at the most popular European races of the time. In particular, he won the Templiers in 2005 tied with Dawa Sherpa, 1st winner of the UTMB®. In 2006, he won the Grand Raid de la Réunion, tied with the second winner of the UTMB®, Vincent Delebarre.

"We'd pull each other's leg during the race, but we were buddies because we were going through the same adventure."

Christophe Jaquerod

Nikki has been an Ultra Endurance legend in the USA for almost 15 years. She has won some of the most prestigious races in the country, including the Western States three times.
In 2007, she raced her first event in Europe and became the second American to win the UTMB® with a top 20 as a bonus.

"It's an addiction. I need to run."

Nikki Kimball

UTMB Champion- 2009 / 2003

There aren't many problems in life that a long run can't solve.

Vincent is one of the personalities behind the UTMB®, alongside Michel and Catherine Poletti. He started the race in 2004 and won, but the former triathlete also took three podium places in three years (1st in 2004, 2nd in 2005 and 3rd in 2006). His list of accomplishments includes other prestigious victories including Templiers and the Grand Raid de la Réunion among others. Following a military career, since 2010 he has worked as a ski instructor and mountain guide as well as leading trail running courses.

"There is victory in front of everyone and victory over oneself."

Vincent Delebarre

An extraordinary career for this mother of twins who moved to the Haute-Loire region of France with her husband Bruno and worked as a country doctor. In the early 2000s, she excelled in both road running – winning seven French 100km titles – and on the trail, with nine Templiers victories. 2006 was an historic grand slam year for her, with a UTMB® victory in August, a race in the Basque country in September, the Templiers in October and the Grand Raid de la Réunion a week later.

"I wanted to break down the barriers that some people want to build."

Karine Herry

She is undoubtedly the least well-known of all the winners. A smoker for 20 years, she took up the challenge of running the UTMB® for her 40th birthday. She competed only once but didn’t make the trip from her home in Gruyère, Switzerland, in vain. She claimed victory and her name is engraved on the list of winners of the world’s greatest race. This remarkable and yet discreet 60-year-old woman has also battled skin cancer, which led her to give up smoking and take up sport.

"I don't want to boast. I am happy in the moment. Then, afterwards, I like to forget."

Colette Borcard

Dawa is a legend of trail running and an icon, with all the major races to his name. A bricklayer by profession in Switzerland, he has been running and cross-country skiing for over thirty years. He has taken part in the Winter Olympics three times, representing Nepal in the 15 km classic (2006, 2010 and 2014). 
He made his mark at the UTMB® in 2003 winning his first title, finished second in 2004 and won the TDS in 2012. He's still a trail runner and still enjoys coming along to chat with the elite and amateur runners.