Sam Holness becomes first openly autistic triathlete to finish Kona
Trailblazing neurodiverse Londoner hopes completing the gruelling challenge in Hawaii can help change perceptions around the condition
Neurodiverse Brit Sam Holness has become the world’s first openly autistic athlete to conquer the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii – and wants to return to do it again.
Despite being affected by stomach issues, the 29-year-old from London completed the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run in an impressive time of 13:05:44.
“This is an epic event,” said Holness, who had a 78min swim, 6hr 21min bike leg and 5hr 9min run. “I had some tummy issues today that made it really hard, but I pushed through, and I am so happy to finish.”
Holness had already completed the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Utah last year and his first full distance triathlon at Ironman Frankfurt in June.
And experiencing the hot and humid conditions of the Big Island for the first time hasn’t put him off wanting to return.
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Aiming high
“I’m definitely going to come back,” he added. “I want to do this again and podium one day! Now I want to go have some pizza and thank all the people of Hawaii who made today so awesome!”
His father and coach, Tony Holness, said: “Marilyn, Sam’s mum, and I are the proudest parents in the world right now.
“It was so nerve-racking, having to wait so long for him. He thought he would be faster, but with the stomach issues he was out longer than he expected, which worried us.
“He’s a Londoner, a pioneer, a trailblazer, and he is going to go for bigger and better things. He is truly amazing, he is my hero!”
As an ambassador for Britain’s Ambitious about Autism, Sam’s goal is to challenge stigma and redefine how people think about autism and neurodiversity. He is also hoping to become the world’s first openly autistic professional triathlete.
Another first
Another triathlete making the final steps along Ali’i Drive in Hawaii was Chris Nikic, who became the first triathlete with Down Syndrome to complete the event.
The 22-year-old from Florida completed the event in 16:31:27. It was his second full distance Ironman having finished Ironman Florida in 2020.
Top image credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for Ironman
Tim Heming
Freelance triathlon journalist 
