Ironman World Championship facts for kids
The Ironman World Championship is a super tough race called a triathlon. Athletes swim, bike, and run very long distances. This big event used to happen every year in Hawaii, United States. It started in 1978 and continued until 2022. There was no race in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, there were two races in 1982!
The World Triathlon Corporation owns and organizes this championship. It's the final race for athletes who have qualified in other Ironman races around the world. Since 2023, the men's and women's championships are held separately. One race is in Kona, Hawaii, and the other is in a different place.
Contents
History of the Race
From 1978 to 1980, the Ironman race took place on the island of Oahu. It combined three existing events: a long swim, a bike race, and the Honolulu Marathon. The bike part was made a bit shorter to connect with the marathon start.
In 1981, the race moved to the Big Island, which is less busy. The distances stayed the same:
- A 3.86-kilometer (2.4-mile) swim in Kailua-Kona Bay.
- A 180.25-kilometer (112-mile) bike ride across the Hawaiian lava desert to Hāwī and back.
- A 42.195-kilometer (26-mile 385-yard) marathon run along the coast.
Since 1982, the race has been held in the fall. Before that, it was in the spring, which is why there were two races in 1982.
Athletes with disabilities also compete in the Ironman World Championship. This category started in 1997. These athletes must finish the race within the same time limits as everyone else. John Maclean from Australia was the first physically challenged athlete to complete the event on time.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 race was first delayed. Then, it was canceled. Athletes who qualified for 2020 could race in 2021 or 2022 instead. The 2021 championship was also delayed and held in St. George, Utah in May 2022. This change happened because of travel rules.
The 2022 Ironman World Championship had separate races for men and women. The women's race was on October 6, and the men's was two days later. Also in 2022, VinFast, a car maker from Vietnam, became the first main sponsor for the race.
Since 2023, the men's and women's Ironman World Championships have been held in different locations. They switch between Nice, France, and Kona, Hawaii. In 2023, the men raced in Nice, France, on September 10. The women raced in Kona, Hawaii, on October 14. This plan will continue until 2026.
To race in the World Championship, athletes must do well in other Ironman or Ironman 70.3 races to qualify.
The fastest time ever on the Ironman Hawaii course was set in 2024 by Patrick Lange from Germany. He finished in 7 hours, 35 minutes, and 53 seconds. The fastest time for women is 8 hours, 24 minutes, and 31 seconds. This record was set in 2023 by Lucy Charles-Barclay from the UK.
Fastest Times (Course Records)
Men's Records
| Event | Record | Speed | Athlete | Nationality | Edition | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Course | 7:35:53 (47:09 - 2:20 - 4:06:22 - 2:30 - 2:37:34) |
Patrick Lange |  Germany |
2024 | ||
| Swim (3.862 km) | 45:43 | 1:12 min/100 m | Sam Askey-Doran |  Australia |
2024 | |
| Bike (180.246 km) | 3:57:22 | 45.56 km/h | Sam Laidlow |  France |
2024 | |
| Run (42.195 km) | 2:36:15 | 16.2 km/h / 3:42 min/km | Gustav Iden |  Norway |
2022 |
Women's Records
| Event | Record | Speed | Athlete | Nationality | Edition | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Course | 8:24:31 (49:36 - 2:29 - 4:32:28 - 2:20 - 2:57:38) |
26.91 km/h | Lucy Charles-Barclay |  United Kingdom |
2023 | |
| Swim (3.862 km) | 48:14 | 1:14 min/100 m | Lucy Charles-Barclay | United Kingdom |
2018 | |
| Bike (180.246 km) | 4:26:07 | 40.64 km/h | Daniela Ryf |  Switzerland |
2018 | |
| Run (42.195 km) | 2:48:23 | 3:57 min/km | Anne Haug | Germany |
2023 |
Past Winners
Here are the athletes who have won medals at the Ironman World Championship.
Men's Medalists
| Year | Gold | Time | Silver | Time | Bronze | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 |  Gordon Haller (USA) |
11:46:58 | John Dunbar (USA) |
12:20:27 | Dave Orlowski (USA) |
13:59:13 |
| 1979 | Tom Warren (USA) |
11:15:56 | John Dunbar (USA) |
12:03:56 | Ian Emberson (USA) |
12:23:30 |
| 1980 | Dave Scott (USA) |
9:24:33 | Chuck Neumann (USA) |
10:24:41 | John Howard (USA) |
10:32:36 |
| 1981 | John Howard (USA) |
9:38:29 | Tom Warren (USA) |
10:04:38 | Scott Tinley (USA) |
10:12:47 |
| 1982 (Feb) | Scott Tinley (USA) |
9:19:41 | Dave Scott (USA) |
9:36:57 | Jeff Tinley (USA) |
9:53:16 |
| 1982 (Oct) | Dave Scott (USA) |
9:08:23 | Scott Tinley (USA) |
9:28:28 | Jeff Tinley (USA) |
9:36:53 |
| 1983 | Dave Scott (USA) |
9:05:57 | Scott Tinley (USA) |
9:06:30 | Mark Allen (USA) |
9:21:06 |
| 1984 | Dave Scott (USA) |
8:54:20 | Scott Tinley (USA) |
9:18:45 | Grant Boswell (USA) |
9:23:55 |
| 1985 | Scott Tinley (USA) |
8:50:54 | Chris Hinshaw (USA) |
9:16:40 |  Carl Kupferschmid (SUI) |
9:26:32 |
| 1986 | Dave Scott (USA) |
8:28:37 | Mark Allen (USA) |
8:36:04 | Scott Tinley (USA) |
9:00:37 |
| 1987 | Dave Scott (USA) |
8:34:13 | Mark Allen (USA) |
8:45:19 | Greg Stewart (AUS) |
8:58:53 |
| 1988 | Scott Molina (USA) |
8:31:00 | Mike Pigg (USA) |
8:33:11 | Ken Glah (USA) |
8:38:37 |
| 1989 | Mark Allen (USA) |
8:09:14 | Dave Scott (USA) |
8:10:13 | Greg Welch (AUS) |
8:32:16 |
| 1990 | Mark Allen (USA) |
8:28:17 | Scott Tinley (USA) |
8:37:40 |  Pauli Kiuru (FIN) |
8:39:24 |
| 1991 | Mark Allen (USA) |
8:18:32 | Greg Welch (AUS) |
8:24:34 | Jeff Devlin (USA) |
8:27:55 |
| 1992 | Mark Allen (USA) |
8:09:08 |  Cristián Bustos (CHI) |
8:16:29 | Pauli Kiuru (FIN) |
8:17:29 |
| 1993 | Mark Allen (USA) |
8:07:45 | Pauli Kiuru (FIN) |
8:14:27 | Wolfgang Dittrich (GER) |
8:20:13 |
| 1994 | Greg Welch (AUS) |
8:20:27 | Dave Scott (USA) |
8:24:32 | Jeff Devlin (USA) |
8:31:56 |
| 1995 | Mark Allen (USA) |
8:20:34 | Thomas Hellriegel (GER) |
8:22:59 | Rainer Müller-Hörner (GER) |
8:25:23 |
| 1996 |  Luc Van Lierde (BEL) |
8:04:08 | Thomas Hellriegel (GER) |
8:06:07 | Greg Welch (AUS) |
8:18:57 |
| 1997 | Thomas Hellriegel (GER) |
8:33:01 | Jürgen Zäck (GER) |
8:39:18 | Lothar Leder (GER) |
8:40:30 |
| 1998 |  Peter Reid (CAN) |
8:24:20 | Luc Van Lierde (BEL) |
8:31:57 | Lothar Leder (GER) |
8:32:57 |
| 1999 | Luc Van Lierde (BEL) |
8:17:17 | Peter Reid (CAN) |
8:22:54 | Tim DeBoom (USA) |
8:25:42 |
| 2000 | Peter Reid (CAN) |
8:21:01 | Tim DeBoom (USA) |
8:23:10 | Normann Stadler (GER) |
8:26:45 |
| 2001 | Tim DeBoom (USA) |
8:31:18 |  Cameron Brown (NZL) |
8:46:10 | Thomas Hellriegel (GER) |
8:47:40 |
| 2002 | Tim DeBoom (USA) |
8:29:56 | Peter Reid (CAN) |
8:33:06 | Cameron Brown (NZL) |
8:35:34 |
| 2003 | Peter Reid (CAN) |
8:22:35 | Rutger Beke (BEL) |
8:28:27 | Cameron Brown (NZL) |
8:30:08 |
| 2004 | Normann Stadler (GER) |
8:33:29 | Peter Reid (CAN) |
8:43:40 | Faris Al-Sultan (GER) |
8:45:14 |
| 2005 | Faris Al-Sultan (GER) |
8:14:17 | Cameron Brown (NZL) |
8:19:36 | Peter Reid (CAN) |
8:20:04 |
| 2006 | Normann Stadler (GER) |
8:11:58 | Chris McCormack (AUS) |
8:13:10 | Faris Al-Sultan (GER) |
8:19:05 |
| 2007 | Chris McCormack (AUS) |
8:15:34 | Craig Alexander (AUS) |
8:19:04 |  Torbjørn Sindballe (DEN) |
8:21:30 |
| 2008 | Craig Alexander (AUS) |
8:17:45 |  Eneko Llanos (ESP) |
8:20:50 | Rutger Beke (BEL) |
8:21:23 |
| 2009 | Craig Alexander (AUS) |
8:20:21 | Chris Lieto (USA) |
8:22:56 | Andreas Raelert (GER) |
8:24:32 |
| 2010 | Chris McCormack (AUS) |
8:10:37 | Andreas Raelert (GER) |
8:12:17 | Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) |
8:13:14 |
| 2011 | Craig Alexander (AUS) |
8:03:56 | Pete Jacobs (AUS) |
8:09:11 | Andreas Raelert (GER) |
8:11:07 |
| 2012 | Pete Jacobs (AUS) |
8:18:37 | Andreas Raelert (GER) |
8:23:40 | Frederik Van Lierde (BEL) |
8:24:09 |
| 2013 | Frederik Van Lierde (BEL) |
8:12:29 | Luke McKenzie (AUS) |
8:15:19 | Sebastian Kienle (GER) |
8:19:24 |
| 2014 | Sebastian Kienle (GER) |
8:14:18 | Ben Hoffman (USA) |
8:19:23 | Jan Frodeno (GER) |
8:20:32 |
| 2015 | Jan Frodeno (GER) |
8:14:40 | Andreas Raelert (GER) |
8:17:43 | Timothy O'Donnell (USA) |
8:18:50 |
| 2016 | Jan Frodeno (GER) |
8:06:30 | Sebastian Kienle (GER) |
8:10:02 | Patrick Lange (GER) |
8:11:14 |
| 2017 | Patrick Lange (GER) |
8:01:40 | Lionel Sanders (CAN) |
8:04:07 | David McNamee (GBR) |
8:07:11 |
| 2018 | Patrick Lange (GER) |
7:52:39 | Bart Aernouts (BEL) |
7:56:41 | David McNamee (GBR) |
8:01:09 |
| 2019 | Jan Frodeno (GER) |
7:51:13 | Tim O'Donnell (USA) |
7:59:40 | Sebastian Kienle (GER) |
8:02:04 |
| 2021‡ | Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) |
7:49:16 | Lionel Sanders (CAN) |
7:54:03 | Braden Currie (NZL) |
7:54:19 |
| 2022 | Gustav Iden (NOR) |
7:40:24 | Sam Laidlow (FRA) |
7:42:24 | Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) |
7:43:23 |
| 2023 | Sam Laidlow (FRA) |
8:06:22 | Patrick Lange (GER) |
8:10:17 | Magnus Ditlev (DEN) |
8:11:43 |
| 2024 | Patrick Lange (GER) |
7:35:53 CR | Magnus Ditlev (DEN) |
7:43:39 | Rudy Von Berg (USA) |
7:46:00 |
- Winners by country
‡The 2021 World Championship was held in St. George, Utah on May 7, 2022. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Women's Medalists
| Year | Gold | Time | Silver | Time | Bronze | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Lyn Lemaire (USA) |
12:55:38 | ||||
| 1980 | Robin Beck (USA) |
11:21:24 | Eve Anderson (USA) |
15:40:59 | ||
| 1981 | Linda Sweeney (USA) |
12:02:32 | Sally Edwards (USA) |
12:37:25 | Lyn Brooks (USA) |
12:42:15 |
| 1982 (Feb) | Kathleen McCartney (USA) |
11:09:40 | Julie Moss (USA) |
11:10:09 | Lyn Brooks (USA) Sally Edwards (USA) |
11:51:00 |
| 1982 (Oct) | Julie Leach (USA) |
10:54:08 | Jo Ann Dahlkoetter (USA) |
10:58:21 | Sally Edwards (USA) |
11:03:00 |
| 1983 | Sylviane Puntous (CAN) |
10:43:36 | Patricia Puntous (CAN) |
10:49:17 | Eva Ueltzen (USA) |
11:01:49 |
| 1984 | Sylviane Puntous (CAN) |
10:25:13 | Patricia Puntous (CAN) |
10:27:28 | Julie Olson (USA) |
10:38:10 |
| 1985 | Joanne Ernst (USA) |
10:25:22 | Elizabeth Bulman (USA) |
10:26:55 |  Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) |
10:31:04 |
| 1986 | Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) |
9:49:14 | Sylviane Puntous (CAN) |
9:53:13 | Joanne Ernst (USA) |
10:00:07 |
| 1987 | Erin Baker (NZL) |
9:35:25 | Sylviane Puntous (CAN) |
9:36:57 | Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) |
9:40:37 |
| 1988 | Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) |
9:01:01 | Erin Baker (NZL) |
9:12:14 | Kirsten Hanssen (USA) |
9:37:25 |
| 1989 | Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) |
9:00:56 | Sylviane Puntous (CAN) |
9:21:55 | Kirsten Hanssen (USA) |
9:24:31 |
| 1990 | Erin Baker (NZL) |
9:13:42 | Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) |
9:20:01 | Terri Schneider (USA) |
10:00:34 |
| 1991 | Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) |
9:07:52 | Erin Baker (NZL) |
9:23:37 | Sarah Coope (GBR) |
9:33:20 |
| 1992 | Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) |
8:55:28 | Julie Anne White (CAN) |
9:21:40 |  Thea Sybesma (NED) |
9:26:57 |
| 1993 | Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) |
8:58:23 | Erin Baker (NZL) |
9:08:04 | Susan Latshaw (USA) |
9:20:40 |
| 1994 | Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) |
9:20:14 | Karen Smyers (USA) |
9:28:08 |  Fernanda Keller (BRA) |
9:43:30 |
| 1995 | Karen Smyers (USA) |
9:16:46 | Isabelle Mouthon (FRA) |
9:25:13 | Fernanda Keller (BRA) |
9:37:48 |
| 1996 | Paula Newby-Fraser† (USA) |
9:06:49 | Natascha Badmann (SUI) |
9:11:19 | Karen Smyers (USA) |
9:19:13 |
| 1997 | Heather Fuhr (CAN) |
9:31:43 | Lori Bowden (CAN) |
9:41:42 | Fernanda Keller (BRA) |
9:50:02 |
| 1998 | Natascha Badmann (SUI) |
9:24:16 | Lori Bowden (CAN) |
9:27:19 | Fernanda Keller (BRA) |
9:28:29 |
| 1999 | Lori Bowden (CAN) |
9:13:02 | Karen Smyers (USA) |
9:20:40 | Fernanda Keller (BRA) |
9:24:30 |
| 2000 | Natascha Badmann (SUI) |
9:26:17 | Lori Bowden (CAN) |
9:29:05 | Fernanda Keller (BRA) |
9:31:29 |
| 2001 | Natascha Badmann (SUI) |
9:28:37 | Lori Bowden (CAN) |
9:32:59 | Nina Kraft (GER) |
9:41:01 |
| 2002 | Natascha Badmann (SUI) |
9:07:54 | Nina Kraft (GER) |
9:14:24 | Lori Bowden (CAN) |
9:22:27 |
| 2003 | Lori Bowden (CAN) |
9:11:55 | Natascha Badmann (SUI) |
9:17:08 | Nina Kraft (GER) |
9:17:16 |
| 2004 | Natascha Badmann (SUI) |
9:50:04 | Heather Fuhr (CAN) |
9:56:19 | Kate Major (AUS) |
10:01:56 |
| 2005 | Natascha Badmann (SUI) |
9:09:30 | Michellie Jones (AUS) |
9:11:51 | Kate Major (AUS) |
9:12:39 |
| 2006 | Michellie Jones (AUS) |
9:18:31 | Desiree Ficker (USA) |
9:24:02 | Lisa Bentley (CAN) |
9:25:18 |
| 2007 | Chrissie Wellington (GBR) |
9:08:45 | Samantha McGlone (CAN) |
9:14:04 | Kate Major (AUS) |
9:19:13 |
| 2008 | Chrissie Wellington (GBR) |
9:06:23 | Yvonne van Vlerken (NED) |
9:21:20 | Sandra Wallenhorst (GER) |
9:22:52 |
| 2009 | Chrissie Wellington (GBR) |
8:54:02 | Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) |
9:13:59 | Virginia Berasategui (ESP) |
9:15:28 |
| 2010 | Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) |
8:58:36 | Caroline Steffen (SUI) |
9:06:00 | Julie Dibens (GBR) |
9:10:04 |
| 2011 | Chrissie Wellington (GBR) |
8:55:08 | Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) |
8:57:57 | Leanda Cave (GBR) |
9:03:29 |
| 2012 | Leanda Cave (GBR) |
9:15:54 | Caroline Steffen (SUI) |
9:16:58 | Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) |
9:21:41 |
| 2013 | Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) |
8:52:14 | Rachel Joyce (GBR) |
8:57:28 | Liz Blatchford (GBR) |
9:03:35 |
| 2014 | Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) |
9:00:55 | Daniela Ryf (SUI) |
9:02:57 | Rachel Joyce (GBR) |
9:04:23 |
| 2015 | Daniela Ryf (SUI) |
8:57:57 | Rachel Joyce (GBR) |
9:10:59 | Liz Blatchford (GBR) |
9:14:52 |
| 2016 | Daniela Ryf (SUI) |
8:46:46 | Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) |
9:10:30 | Heather Jackson (USA) |
9:11:32 |
| 2017 | Daniela Ryf (SUI) |
8:50:47 | Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) |
8:59:38 | Sarah Crowley (AUS) |
9:01:38 |
| 2018 | Daniela Ryf (SUI) |
8:26:18 | Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) |
8:36:32 | Anne Haug (GER) |
8:41:57 |
| 2019 | Anne Haug (GER) |
8:40:10 | Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) |
8:46:44 | Sarah Crowley (AUS) |
8:48:13 |
| 2021‡ | Daniela Ryf (SUI) |
8:34:59 | Kat Matthews (GBR) |
8:43:49 | Anne Haug (GER) |
8:47:03 |
| 2022 | Chelsea Sodaro (USA) |
8:33:46 | Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) |
8:41:37 | Anne Haug (GER) |
8:42:22 |
| 2023 | Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) |
8:24:31 CR | Anne Haug (GER) |
8:27:33 | Laura Philipp (GER) |
8:32:55 |
| 2024 | Laura Philipp (GER) |
8:45:15 | Kat Matthews (GBR) |
8:53:20 | Chelsea Sodaro (USA) |
9:04:38 |
- Winners by country
- 11: Switzerland
- 9: United States
- 7: Zimbabwe
- 6: Great Britain
- 5: Canada
- 4: Australia
- 2: New Zealand
- 2: Germany
†Paula Newby Fraser was a citizen and represented the United States for the 1996 race.
‡The 2021 World Championship was held in St. George, Utah on May 7, 2022. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ironman Lottery Changes
Before 2015, people could enter a lottery to get a chance to race in the Ironman World Championship. It cost $50 to enter, and 100 winners would get a spot in the race. If you won, you still had to pay the regular entry fee.
However, this lottery system was stopped. The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) changed how people could get into the race. Winners of the 2015 lottery were still allowed to compete in the championship race that year.
See also
In Spanish: Campeonato Mundial de Ironman para niños
