Julie Moss is the woman who put the Big Island on the tri map. As a 23-year-old kinesiology student from California, her ‘crawl’ to the Ironman World Championship finish line in 1982 was broadcast on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and caught the imagination of thousands.
Moss would later marry six-time winner Mark Allen, and although now divorced they remain good friends. Here's Julie in her own words…
What Kona means to Moss
Hawaii is part of my DNA. I’ve been coming to this island for 40 years to test myself. There’s no indigenous part of me that should connect in this way, but coming back is like a pilgrimage.
In those final stages of the 1982 Ironman, I fought for belief in myself for maybe the first time. I’d never been an athlete and had this opportunity to win something.
It’s such a great theme for triathletes, the idea that you’re finding something within yourself that you haven’t accessed before. You start stripping away the layers of who you think you should be, and discover who you are.
1980s Kona kit
I was ahead of the time wearing a trucker hat in ’82 – because it was part of the free swag that [sponsors] Bud Lite handed out! My bike shoes were leather tie-ups with straps on the pedals. I had a one-piece suit gifted from a gentleman who saw me training in wool shorts and a tank top.
A museum recently asked for the Kona kit I wore in 1982!
My helmet was a skateboard helmet that I drilled extra holes in to make it light and cooler. The bike was a regular 10-speed commuter bike I bought for around $250. A museum in the US recently asked for the kit!
Repeating Kona mistakes
I famously thought I was a pro again in 2017 – and made the same mistakes! My goal was to win my age-group, but I got to T2 and packed up my gear.
As soon as I saw the look on my son, Mats’, face, I thought ‘Gee, I made a mistake.’ I knew right away I’d be going back to try and qualify.
I went to New Zealand to qualify in 2018. Come Hawaii and Mats wasn’t having the best day. We passed each other at an aid station, and I said: ‘You’re going to finish.’ He replied: ‘Yes’. We were both deep in it.
I loved that feeling of communicating with my son as you would a fellow racer. Seeing him waiting at the finish line with Mark [Allen], there was nothing to top it.
Developing the sport
I’m on the board of directors for the Ironman Foundation, an athlete ambassador for Hoka and was also the co-captain of the USA for the PTO’s Collins Cup in 2022.
These days it’s less about racing but more about being involved in the development of the sport. I’m very excited for the first all-women’s wave of Kona next year. There are extra Women For Tri spots so women can plan their races to qualify.
I’ve learned over 40 years that endurance sport is a privilege. When I quit in 2017 I didn’t find enough meaning in just finishing, but that was an opportunity lost.
In 2018, I had the attitude of going back to why we do this – to test ourselves. I had a renewed sense of curiosity of what the day would bring.
