Solveig Lovseth wins Ironman World Championship in Hawaii

Solveig Lovseth continued a fabulous year for Norwegians in Ironman world championships by claiming the Hawaii title in a drama-packed race on the Big Island.

Britain’s Kat Matthews was runner-up at the event for the third time following near misses in St George in 2022 and Nice last year, and defending champion Laura Philipp finished third.

But the race became a gruelling war of attrition that saw longtime leader Lucy Charles-Barclay drop out in the second half of the marathon, and then Taylor Knibb dramatically reduced to a standstill while in front and less than 3km from the finish.

Lovseth took the tape in 8:28:27 – the third fastest winning time – but even the final yards through town remained uncertain as the charging Matthews closed the gap to just 35sec with a new course record 2:47:23 marathon.

What happened in the swim?

First light in Hawaii signalled the traditional sounding of the cannon from the Kona pier – and the sight of Charles-Barclay looking as if she’d been fired from one.

The Brit who has been leading out the swim in this race since her debut in 2017, was on the pace from the get-go, and immediately forced a gap to Knibb – one that wouldn’t be bridged until past the halfway mark on the bike.

The swell in the Pacific made for a testing first 3.8km, but Charles-Barclay still posted 49:26 – just 72sec slower than her own course record set in 2018.

While the gap had quickly pushed out at the start of the swim, the second group including USA’s Knibb, past champion Chelsea Sodaro and Hayley Chura, GB’s Holly Lawrence, New Zealand’s Rebecca Clarke and Netherlands’ Lotte WIlms, limited the damage on the way back to transition.

Charles-Barclay’s advantage was 1:33 heading onto the bike course, but pre-race favourites, Philipp and Matthew – exiting the steps onto the pier alongside Lovseth – were more than 6min behind with plenty of work to do.

What happened on the bike?

Knibb was the early mover on the 180km bike leg to move clear in second place as the three-time and reigning Ironman 70.3 world champion attempted to make the most of her strongest discipline.

At the same time, Sodaro was heading backwards through the field and the 2022 world champion would ultimately call it quits before reaching the turnaround at Hawi – one of 10 pro women from 54 starters who wouldn’t make the finish.

Philipp and Matthews were cycling strongly, but so too was Kona debutante Lovseth, who pushed through into the podium places by halfway.

Charles-Barclay’s longtime lead was finally whittled away by Knibb 100km into the bike leg, and the two then swapped positions until Charles-Barclay picked up a 1min penalty for unintentional littering.

Knibb seized the opportunity to push on and came into T2 first with just under a 2min buffer after a 4:31 bike split. Lovseth’s split was less than a minute slower as she dismounted the bike under 6mins back and still firmly in contention.

Behind the leading trio, Philipp and Matthew, along with Jocelyn McCauley, Hannah Berry and Lisa Perterer were separated by a handful of seconds, but more importantly were more than 14min off the front.

What happened on the run?

The start of the marathon was an out-and-back section along the coastal road of Ali’i Drive, and while Charles-Barclay began to erode Knibb’s lead those seconds were lost when she paused to adjust her footwear.

Knibb was continuing at a steady pace, and the fast-running Matthew and Philipp, who were running almost in lockstep through the opening stretch, only clawed back just over a minute through the opening 8km.

At this point, it looked most likely to come down to a battle between the front two and Charles-Barclay took the lead on the way up Palani hill, the biggest climb on the course, looking confident as she headed out along the highway toward the natural energy lab.

It didn’t last long. Knibb wasn’t finished and by halfway in the marathon she was back in front, as the Brit was reduced to walking through aid stations trying to take on fluid and cool her body temperature.

The lead grew as Knibb dropped into the gruelling section of the energy lab and then turned for home with under 16km remaining.

Having moved away from Philipp, Matthews was the fastest runner on course and striving to make the podium, but the gap to the front was still around 10min as she entered the final third of the marathon.

Charles-Barclay was looking increasingly unsteady on her feet, and with husband Reece on the side of the course in support, made the tough call to pull out.

It pushed Lovseth into second place and Matthews up to third, and although the gaps narrowed as they headed back towards Kona and the finish, Knibb still looked fully in command.

But there was another twist to come as the American began to wobble heading through one of the final aid stations and unable to make forward progress, her legs buckled and she was reduced to sitting on the tarmac.

Lovseth kept her composure to keep pressing forward and had enough to hold on for the victory, but it came down to just 35sec as a charging Matthews set a run course record, with Philipp another 8min back in third.

Lawrence was the next best of the Brits, as she finished sixth as one of eight women to break 9hrs, with India Lee in 22nd and Stepoh Clutterbuck in 34th and Rebecca Anderbury also dropping out on the marathon.

Ironman World Championship. Women’s final results

1. Solveig Lovseth
2. Kat Matthews
3. Laura Philipp
4. Hannah Berry
5. Lisa Perterer
6. Holly Lawrence
7. Jocelyn McCauley
8. Sara Svensk
9. Leonie Konczalla
10. Marlene De Boer

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