Ironman World Championship facts for kids
The Ironman World Championship is a super tough race called a triathlon. It happens every year in Hawaii, United States. This amazing event has been going on since 1978.
It is owned and organized by the World Triathlon Corporation. This championship is the biggest race of the year for many Ironman triathlon athletes. They qualify for it by doing well in other Ironman races around the world. Since 2023, the Ironman World Championships are held in two different places: Kona, Hawaii, and France. The men's and women's races take turns being held at each location.
Contents
History of the Race
From 1978 to 1980, the race was held on the island of Oahu. The course used parts of three races already happening there. These were the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the Around-Oahu 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. This island is less busy. The race distances stayed the same. It starts with a 2.4 miles (3.86 km) swim in Kailua-Kona Bay. Then, athletes ride a bike for 112 miles (180.25 km) across the Hawaiian lava desert. They go to Hāwī and come back. Finally, they run a full marathon (26 miles 385 yards (42.19 km)) along the coast. The run goes from Keauhou to Keahole Point and back to Kailua-Kona. The finish line is on Aliʻi Drive.
Since 1982, the race has been held in the fall. Before that, it was in the spring. This meant there were two races in 1982. The most recent Ironman World Championship happened on October 8, 2022. It had been paused for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To get into the World Championship, athletes must place well in other Ironman or Ironman 70.3 races. The 2020 race was first moved to 2021, but then it was canceled. Athletes who qualified for 2020 could race in 2021 or 2022 instead.
The fastest time ever on the Ironman Hawaii course was set in 2022. Gustav Iden from Norway finished in 7 hours, 40 minutes, and 24 seconds. For women, the fastest time is 8 hours, 24 minutes, and 31 seconds. This record was set in 2023 by Lucy Charles-Barclay from the UK.
Athletes with disabilities also compete in this event. They have a special category that started in 1997. They must finish the race within the same time limits as other athletes. Australian John Maclean was the first physically challenged athlete to finish on time.
Since 2022, Vietnam's car company VinFast has been a main sponsor. They were the first company to have their name linked to the 2022 Ironman World Championship and 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
Course Records
These tables show the fastest times for each part of the race.
Men's Records
| 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'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 |
Medalists: Top Finishers
These tables show the top three male and female athletes who have finished the Ironman World Championship each year.
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 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 race was moved from Kona, Hawaii because of 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 |
- 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 race was moved from Kona, Hawaii because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 2023, the Men's Championship and Women's Championship take turns. They are held in Kona, Hawaii, and Nice, France.
Ironman Lottery System
Before 2015, people could enter a lottery to get a chance to race in the Ironman World Championship. It cost $50 to enter the lottery. If you won, you then had to pay the normal race entry fee.
However, this lottery system was stopped. This was because of rules in Florida, where the World Triathlon Corporation is based. These rules say that you cannot charge money for a chance to win something. Since the lottery charged a $50 fee, it went against these rules. The World Triathlon Corporation worked with officials to resolve the issue. They agreed to give back the money collected from the lottery since October 24, 2012.
People who won the 2015 lottery were told before this change was announced. The World Triathlon Corporation said that these winners would still get to race in the championship.
See also
In Spanish: Campeonato Mundial de Ironman para niños
