For the first time ever, the Ironman World Championship in Kona took place over two separate days of elite racing as the event returns to the iconic Hawaiian island.
In a year for the history books that's seen two Ironman World Championships due to the 2021 event being postponed to May, the world's top elite triathletes gathered in Hawaii for the 6 and 8 October.
In an unexpected turn, Gustav Iden outran his teammate and training partner Kristian Blummenfelt to the line in the final few miles of the race, overtaking France's Sam Laidlow to claim the crown. The young Laidlow wowed all by hanging on for silver and a Norwegian sandwich, with Blummenfelt rounding off the podium.
On the woman's side, GB's Lucy Charles-Barclay put in a stellar performance after her earlier-season injury woes to hold on to second position behind USA's Chelsea Sodaro, with previous champ Anne Haug coming in for bronze position.
- Gustav Iden wins Ironman 2022 World Championship in record time
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Gustav Iden
A man of few words, the new Ironman World Champion posted a relaxed beach photo for his #ootd (outfit of the day) after the drama of the men's race in Kona, simply writing: "Winning is a choice #ootd".
The newly-crowned champion is known for his straight-talking confidence, proclaiming "now we have won everything!" post-race.
Chelsea Sodaro
Chelsea Sodaro became the first woman to win the Ironman Championship in Kona on debut since Chrissie Wellington in 2007, and was the first American winner for over 25 years. She was also only the second-ever mum to win the title. Sodaro celebrated in an Instagram post after the event.
"What a privilege to race with these classy ladies! Honor of a lifetime.
"Massive congrats to @lucycharles93 and @tri.anne.haug - you brought out the best in me and I’m so proud to compete with athletes like you.
"How good is women’s racing right now?!!!! Still buzzing!"
Sodaro's also determined to raise awareness of motherhood in elite racing, often discussing her postpartum journey.
Lucy Charles-Barclay
At the start of the year, many people were pinning title hopes on the then three-time Kona runner-up, Lucy Charles-Barclay. But after developing a stress fracture in her hip, she was forced to put her 2022 season on hold and miss out on the 2021 Ironman World Champs and Sub-8 attempt.
Even after winning the Long Distance Champs in August, the jury was still out on whether or not she'd be able to match the form of her competitors after so much time off.
But Charles-Barclay knows this course well, and after leading in the swim she managed to battle her way and hold onto second-place position ahead of Germany's Anne Haug. To Charles-Barclay, runner-up in Kona felt like a "massive win".
She shared all in a candid post-race Instagram post:
"It was a win just getting on the start line here in Kona, so I’m over the moon with another 2nd place finish at the Ironman World Championship!
"The ladies had their own day & we for sure delivered a show, huge congrats to @chelseasodaro for an incredible win & to @tri.anne.haug for pushing me right until the very end!"
Sam Laidlow
After leading the race until the final four brutal miles on the run, France's Sam Laidlow nevertheless made history as the second-ever fastest Kona finisher.
It was understandably an emotional achievement for young Laidlow, who credits his family for keeping him in the sport. In a later Instagram post Laidlow injected some humour into the teary-eyed moment:
"Might get somebody to photoshop a finish line tape to this pic in case it never happens again.
"It’s been a special few days for me, and although I didn’t blow up during the race this time I definitely went out too hard at the after party. Pathetic endurance if I’m honest.
"And by the way.. I was not crying, I just get allergies"
Laidlow shared a more upbeat post to summarise his record-beating race:
Kristian Blummenfelt
Many assumed the reigning World Triathlon, Olympic and Ironman champion Kristian Blummenfelt would collect the hallowed winner's umeke bowl in Kona, but it just wasn't his day under the Hawaiian sun as teammate Iden outshone the competition. Keeping it short, Blummenfelt reflected on his race in a post:
"Third place yesterday. Just wasn’t good enough on the run to keep up the pace.
"Congrats to @gustav_iden for taking the win and @samlaidlow for an impressive bike-run combo"
Anne Haug
2019 Ironman world champion Anne Haug left it all out on the course in Kona, but a "brutal" race saw her just miss out on second place to Charles-Barclay. Haug reflected on her race and the standard of racing in an honest Instagram post:
"Second @ironmantri world Champs this year and another Bronze medal. If you gave it all you have in the tank, than you have to be happy with the result.
"There was absolutely nothing left although the second place seemed so close. But the bike took out everything and I burned to much matches already to run a fast marathon, which I was really hoping to do so. But this island is brutal and there's no room for any mistake.
"@chelseasodara pulled out an amazing rookie performance and is the well deserved world Champion. And congrats to @lucycharles93 for another silver medal and a gutsy performance after such a tough year."
Daniela Ryf
The highly decorated 10-time Ironman and 70.3 world champion shared her thoughts on the tough women's race in Kona, but manages to stay positive in an Instagram post:
"Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.
"Even the perfect preparation doesn't guarantee success. And that’s what makes it interesting. I hope you guys enjoyed the show of the womens race. It‘s an amazing time to be in our sport"
Joe Skipper
Several athletes have remarked on hearing barking sounds before being overtaken by a certain Joe Skipper out on the famous Big Island course.
But despite his recent rivalry with the "Norwegian hype train", his performance was not one to rival the duo.
It was his best-ever race, but with the rising standard of competition, Skipper only managed to scrape fifth in Kona behind Australia's Max Neumann.
He laid out his disappointment in a heartfelt Instagram post, yet admitted he sees a top five finish as a stepping stone to the Kona podium.
"I’m leaving kona with mixed emotions after Saturdays race.
"It was my best position and performance to date on the island finishing in 5th with the 6th fastest time of all time in 7h55m but i was definitely hoping for more before the race."
Laura Philipp
A tough pill to swallow, fourth place on one of the sport's biggest stages is nothing to be scoffed at, but to just miss out on a podium spot is never easy to accept. This year saw German star Laura Philipp miss out on bronze to compatriot Haug by a mere eight seconds. Philipp shared her thoughts in a post:
"4th place at the IM World Championships Hawaii!
"Feeling a bit heartbroken but still proud to come away with another top 5 performance in a stacked field."
Sebastian Kienle
The 2014 Ironman champion left it all out there to finish sixth in his last ever appearance in Kona. He recounted his race experience in an in-depth Instagram post in which he thanked his family and praised his fellow athletes.
"I‘m feeling good. Surprisingly good. There is no better pain killer than happiness I guess, and I am really happy.
To be able to write my own (happy) end of the Kona story is a great privilege. But I have to say I had doubts.
"First time under 8h in Kona. Never finished outside of top ten. I‘ve seen the future of the sport, it is bright. Not only from the speed but also from the personality.
"It was a change of guard. Patrick, Joe and me were the only athletes over 30 in the top ten.
"This was the beginning of the end. Now it’s time for some fun. I’ll race as much as my body allows me to till the end of 2023. I‘m open for suggestions"
Fenella Langridge
Claiming sixth place, the second-fastest female Brit and the last female athlete to come under 9hrs on the tough course, Fenella Langridge shared how her race went in an in-depth Instagram post:
"Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen! There is no I in team and Ironman racing is 100% a team effort!"
Top image credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for Ironman
