Ironman World Championship facts for kids
The Ironman World Championship is a triathlon held annually in Hawaii, United States since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organized by the World Triathlon Corporation. It is the annual culmination of a series of Ironman triathlon qualification races held throughout the world. As of 2023, Ironman World Championships split between Kona and France, with the men's and women's races rotating years.
History
From 1978 through 1980 the race was held on the island of Oahu, the course combining that of three events already held there: the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 mi./3.86 km), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 mi./185.07 km, originally a two-day event), and the Honolulu Marathon. The bike stage was reduced by 3 miles to link it to the start of the marathon course. In 1981 the race was moved to the less urbanized Big Island, keeping the distances the same: a 2.4 miles (3.86 km) open water swim in Kailua-Kona Bay, a 112 miles (180.25 km) bike ride across the Hawaiian lava desert to Hāwī and back, and a marathon (26 miles 385 yards, 42.195 km) run along the coast of the Big Island from Keauhou to Keahole Point and back to Kailua-Kona, finishing on Aliʻi Drive.
Since 1982, the race has been held in the fall each year, before which it was held in the spring, giving two races in 1982. The most recent Ironman World Championship took place on 8 October 2022, following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualifying for the World Championship is achieved through placement in one of the other Ironman races or some Ironman 70.3 races. Because of COVID-19, the 2020 race was initially postponed to February 2021. However, the race was ultimately canceled with that year's qualifiers able to defer to race in 2021 or 2022.
The current Ironman Hawaii course record was set in 2022 by Gustav Iden (Norway), whose winning time was 7 hrs 40 min 24 sec. The women's course record is 8 hrs 24 mins 31 sec, set in 2023 by Lucy Charles-Barclay (UK).
Athletes with disabilities compete in the event in the physically challenged category, which was instituted in 1997, and are required to meet the same cutoff times as able bodied competitors. Australian John Maclean was the first physically challenged athlete to complete the event under the cut-off time.
Since 2022, Vietnam's automobile maker VinFast was the first ever naming rights partner for 2022 Ironman World Championship and 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
Course records
Men
| Event | Record | Speed | Athlete | Nationality | Edition | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Course | 7:40:24 (48:23 - 2:21 - 4:11:06 - 2:22 - 2:36:15) |
Gustav Iden |  Norway |
2022 | ||
| Swim (3.862 km) | 46:29 | 1:12 min/100 m | Jan Sibbersen |  Germany |
2018 | |
| Bike (180.246 km) | 4:04:36 | 44.21 km/h | Sam Laidlow |  France |
2022 | |
| Run (42.195 km) | 2:36:15 | 16.2 km/h / 3:42 min/km | Gustav Iden | Norway |
2022 |
Women
| 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 |
Medalists
Men
| 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 CR | 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 |
‡The 2021 World Championship was held in St. George, Utah on May 7, 2022. The delay and change from the original Kona, Hawaii venue were due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Women
| 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 |
- 11: Switzerland
- 9: United States
- 7: Zimbabwe
- 6: Great Britain
- 5: Canada
- 4: Australia
- 2: New Zealand
- 1: 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. The delay and change from the original Kona, Hawaii venue were due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 2023 the Men's Championship alternates with the Women's Championship at Kona, Hawaii and Nice, France.
Ironman lottery
Until 2015, individuals could enter a lottery for the chance to participate in the Ironman World Championship. The lottery entry fee was $50 and afforded the chance to win one of 100 berths in the championship race. If selected the winners then had to pay the normal entry fee.
However, according to a sworn complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in Tampa, Florida, Ironman illegally charged athletes for a chance to win the opportunity to compete in the Ironman World Championship. According to Florida law, the state where the World Triathlon Corporation resides, it is illegal to set up and charge for a lottery. Because WTC charged a $50 fee to enter the lottery, instead of giving away the opportunity to win a slot at the championships, they were in violation of this law. Following the complaint WTC cooperated with the United States Attorneys office and the FBI's investigation of the matter and agreed to forfeit $2,761,910, the amount collected from the lottery since October 24, 2012. The attorney representing the United States in the matter was 8-time Ironman finisher James A. Muench.
Winners of the 2015 lottery were notified on March 17, 2015, prior to the announcement of the complaint. WTC stated that these winners would be unaffected by this decision and that their slots for the upcoming championship race would be honored.
See also
In Spanish: Campeonato Mundial de Ironman para niños
