top 10 influential

WTC CEO Andrew Messick is charging forward to globalization triathlon beyond what others have imagined.

Lance Armstrong’s impact on the sport (bad or good) in 2012 is undeniable.

While she didn't race in 2012 and has officially retired, Chrissie Wellington still has the triathlon community following her every move.

The primary fuel for Chris McCormack’s influence on the sport is his fearlessness whenever the microphone is in front of him.

Peter Henning, the man in charge of NBC's annual coverage of the Ironman World Championship, earns the fifth spot on our list.

Dan Empfield first raced the Hawaii Ironman in 1981 and continues to be a part of triathlon’s DNA.

Specialized's embrace of triathlon has been a dream of a talented aerodynamics specialist, Mark Cote.

Germany’s Felix Walchshöfer, the CEO of Challenge, takes the number 8 spot on our list of most influential people of 2012.

Coming in at the ninth position on our list of most influential people for 2012 is Boulder, Colo.-based Mat Steinmetz.

Over the next two weeks we'll reveal Inside Triathlon's picks for the top 10 most influential people of 2012, starting with Barb Lindquist.