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Ironman Triathlon in Kona Hawaii
A World Championshiop Event
The Ironman Triathlon in Kona Hawaii
is the world championship event in the
International Ironman Triathlon series
of events. It is the most prestigious
triathlon in the world.
Athletes from more then 50 countries and
all 50 of the United States compete
every in the Iron Triathlon World Championships
in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Qualifying Events:
Qualifiers for the Ironmabn World Championship
take place all over the world.
Organizers:
Ironman triathlon events are organized by the World
Triathlon Corporation (WTC).
Course Record:
Set in 1996 by Luc Van Lierde of Belgium.
His winning time was 8 hrs 4 minutess 8 seconds.
Events and Distances
Ocean Swim: 2.4 miles / 3.8 kilometers
Bicycling: 112 miles / 180 kilometers
Running: 26.2 miles / 42 kilometers
Swimming Event
Distance: 2.4 miles / 3.8 kilometers
Course: Kailua-Kona Bay
wetsuits are not allowed
Bicycling Event
Distance: 112 miles / 180 kilometers
Course: Round trip Kailua-Kona to Hawi across lava fields
no huge hills but winds can be strong
Running Event
Distance: 26.2 miles / 42 kilometers
Course: Keauhou to Keahole Point to Kailua-Kona, finishing on Alii Drive.
Weather can be very hot
Cutoff Time
Originally none, then 15 hour limit
was established, and now all events
must be completed within 17 hours.
Physically Challenged Category
They have to finish within same complete time limit
as other competitors. First physically challenged
athlete to complete the event was John McLean
of Australia.
Anybody who finishes is recognized as an "Ironman"
or an 'Ironman Triathlete"
History
The idea was discussed during the award sceremony
for the 1977 Oahu Perimeter Relay, partucurarly
by members of the Mid=Pacific Road Runners and
the Waikiki Swim Club.
The first Ironman Triathlon event took place February 18, 1978 in Honolulu.
It was held again (I think in Honolulu) in
1979 and 1980.
The idea was to combine three existing long
distance competions:
The Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 miles)
the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 miles)
and the
Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles)
It all began at an Awards Ceremony for a relay
running race in Honolulu in 1977. A group of local
athletes discussed the idea of an endurance triathlon
and combining three major events that already existed
on the island. John Collins suggested combining them
and making it a single-day event. Later that evening,
Collins took the stage announcing the event and
that "whoever finishes first, we will call him the
"Ironman."
The trademark phrase was born at those events:
"Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles!
Brag for the rest of your life",
FIRST IRONMAN TRIATHLON (inaugural event)
The first Ironman Triathlon
event took place February 18, 1978 in Honolulu.
It was decided that the person who
finished first would be called the "Ironman"
(what was the official title of that first event)
Fifteen men started the event but only
twelve completed it. The winner of the first
evet Ironman Triathlon was Gordon Haller who
completed the entire course in 11 hours,
46 minutes, and 58 seconds.
2ND IRON,AN TRIATHLON (first Ironwoman)
As many as 50 athletes were expected tocompete in 1979,
but that year the race was postponed one day
becuse of bad weather condition, and only 15
athletes ended up starting the race.
The male winner was
Tom Warren of San Diego whos finsihed in in 11 hours,
15 minutes, and 56 seconds.
Boston cyclist Lyn Lemaire finished sixth overall
and became the first "Ironwoman".
3RD IRONMAN (1980)
4TH IRONMAN - 1981 (to Big Island, feb to oct)
In 1981 Valerie Silk moved the event from
the Big Island and from February to October.
1982 - there were 2 ironman events in 1982
because of the move from feb to oct (???)
1982 FEBRUARY
Julie Moss crawled to the finish
line when severe fatique and dehydration
overcame her yards from the finish line.
Kathleen McCartney won, but Julie finished
and her finish was broadcast around the world.
2000 - Triathlon added as a sport to the
Summer Olympic games in Sydney, but as a
shorter distance race
Swim - 1.5 km (.93 mile)
cycle - 40 km (24.85 mile)
run - 10 km (6.2 mile)
1982 OCTOBER - two ironman events in 1982
25TH IRONMAN - 1983 - 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Nearly 1500 athletes registered,
and most had to go through
a qualification process. But a few
were admitted through a lottery process.
Results (Men)
2007 Chris McCormack 8:15:34 Australia
2006 Normann Stadler 8:11:56 Germany
2005 Faris Al-Sultan 8:14:17 Germany
2004 Normann Stadler 8:33:29 Germany
2003 Peter Reid 8:22:35 Canada
2002 Tim DeBoom 8:29:56 United States
2001 Tim DeBoom 8:31:18 United States
2000 Peter Reid 8:21:01 Canada
1999 Luc Van Lierde 8:17:17 Belgium
1998 Peter Reid 8:24:20 Canada
1997 Thomas Hellriegel 8:33:01 Germany
1996 Luc Van Lierde 8:04:08 Belgium (course record holder)
1995 Mark Allen 8:20:34 United States
1994 Greg Welch 8:20:27 Australia (first non-American winner)
1993 Mark Allen 8:11:45 United States
1992 Mark Allen 8:09:08 United States
1991 Mark Allen 8:18:32 United States
1990 Mark Allen 8:28:17 United States
1989 Mark Allen 8:09:15 United States
1988 Scott Molina 8:31:00 United States
1987 Dave Scott 8:34:13 United States
1986 Dave Scott 8:28:37 United States
1985 Scott Tinley 8:50:54 United States
1984 Dave Scott 8:54:20 United States
1983 Dave Scott 9:05:57 United States
1982 (Oct) Dave Scott 9:08:23 United States
1982 (Feb) Scott Tinley 9:19:41 United States
1981 John Howard 9:38:29 United States
1980 Dave Scott 9:24:33 United States
1979 Tom Warren 11:15:56 United States
1978 Gordon Haller 11:46:58 United States
Results (Women)
2007 Chrissie Wellington 9:08:45 United Kingdom
2006 Michellie Jones 9:18:31 Australia
2005 Natascha Badmann 9:09:30 Switzerland
2004 Natascha Badmann 9:50:04 Switzerland
2003 Lori Bowden 9:11:55 Canada
2002 Natascha Badmann 9:07:54 Switzerland
2001 Natascha Badmann 9:28:37 Switzerland
2000 Natascha Badmann 9:26:17 Switzerland
1999 Lori Bowden 9:13:02 Canada
1998 Natascha Badmann 9:24:16 Switzerland
1997 Heather Fuhr 9:31:43 Canada
1996 Paula Newby-Fraser 9:06:49 Zimbabwe
1995 Karen Smyers 9:16:46 United States
1994 Paula Newby-Fraser 9:20:14 Zimbabwe
1993 Paula Newby-Fraser 8:58:23 Zimbabwe
1992 Paula Newby-Fraser 8:55:28 Zimbabwe (course record holder)
1991 Paula Newby-Fraser 9:07:52 Zimbabwe
1990 Erin Baker 9:13:42 New Zealand
1989 Paula Newby-Fraser 9:00:56 Zimbabwe
1988 Paula Newby-Fraser 9:01:01 Zimbabwe
1987 Erin Baker 9:35:25 New Zealand
1986 Paula Newby-Fraser 9:49:14 Zimbabwe
1985 Joanne Ernst 10:25:22 United States
1984 Sylviane Puntous 10:25:13 Canada
1983 Sylviane Puntous 10:43:36 Canada
1982 (Oct) Julie Leach 10:54:08 United States
1982 (Feb) Kathleen McCartney 11:09:40 United States
1981 Linda Sweeney 12:02:32 United States
1980 Robin Beck 11:21:24 United States
1979 Lyn Lemaire 12:55:38 United States
Ironman Triathlon Series
Official Web site:
Ironman.com
Timeline of Ironman Triathlons
See also:
All Triathlons in Hawaii
Other Big Island Sports Events
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