Taylor Knibb wins third straight Ironman 70.3 World Championship

Taylor Knibb won a third consecutive Ironman 70.3 World Championship, with Britain’s Kat Matthews in second place to make it a repeat of the one-two from last year.

While Knibb’s trademark front-running performance stole the show on New Zealand’s North Island, Matthews at least had the consolation of claiming the overall Ironman Pro Series title, and with it a cheque for $200k to go with her $45k race prize money from Taupo.

Knibb pocketed the top prize of $75 and there was $30k for Ashleigh Gentle who ran through for third. Imogen Simmonds held on for fourth place, with fellow Swiss and Olympic silver medallist Julie Derron finishing in fifth.

It was the culmination to a fantastic year for Knibb, who became only the second triathlete to win three straight Ironman 70.3 world crowns after Daniela Ryf (2017-2019).

Four straight wins on the T100 World Tour also gave her the inaugural title to add to a silver medal in the mixed team relay at the Paris Olympic Games.

And, having won 70.3 Oceanside in April, it also meant the 26-year-old was undefeated in six non-drafting races and would finish the world as the PTO No 1 ranked triathlete.

Matthews’ own season has been spectacular as well. Two Ironman victories and finishing runner-up in the Ironman World Championship in Nice, helped her seal the Pro Series title, and there was success in the T100 with two podiums.

But it also now means she has four times been stood on the second step of the podium at the Ironman worlds – twice over the full distance and twice at 70.3 – which will add fuel to the motivation as she heads into 2025.

What happened in the swim?

Lake Taupo was the setting for the first Ironman 70.3 World Championship to take place in New Zealand, and finally went ahead after the event was originally planned for 2020. 

Spain’s Sara Perez Sala, Netherlands’ Lotte Wilms and home hope Bec Clarke were the familiar names at the front of the 1.9km swim in 24:20, but Spain’s Marta Sanchez and Knibb, who admitted post race that she struggled to sight, were only seconds behind along with a clutch of contenders. 

Matthews was 15th out of the water at 43sec back, with the dangerous Gentle for company as they headed out for a testing one-loop bike course.

What happened on the bike?

Knibb was in the lead almost from the start of the 90km bike course and by 30km she had extended the gap to 90sec over Simmonds and Matthews. 

Some of the fastest runners including Derron and Gentle were in the chasing pace-line along with Canada’s Paula Findlay, and Kiwi Hannah Berry, who had won the regular 70.3 here last December as well as in 2019.

Denmark’s Laura Madsen was cycling strongly to move through the field, but at the front, as Knibb crested the final hill before dropping back into town for the final kilometres the gap was stretching out.

A split of 2:10:09 did the race-winning damage and brought Knibb into T2 almost 4 1/2min ahead of Simmonds and Matthews, with Derron and Gentle starting the run more than 8min adrift.

What happened on the run?

Matthews was the fastest runner of the challengers over the first 5km as she swept past Simmonds and ate 30sec into Knibb’s advantage.

Through 10km the Brit was still the quickest and had whittled the gap down to under 3 1/2min. Simmonds was battling to hold on to her podium place with both Derron and Gentle running strongly in fourth and fifth. 

Gentle started to turn the screw on the second and final lap and after dropping Derron, smoothly swept past Simmonds to take the final podium spot.

Knibb took the tape in 3:57:34, but Matthews had arguably the best run of her career to post a 1:15:34 split and finish just 75sec behind.

On Ironman 70.3 worlds debut, Gentle cruised through for third place, and Simmonds couldn’t make it a third 70.3 worlds podium, but held off Derron for fourth.

There was a strong run from Australia’s Ellie Salthouse who secured her first top 10 in the event in seventh, and Nikki Bartlett was the second Brit home in 11th, with Lizzie Rayner in 16th and 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Jodie Stimpson in 32nd.

Knibb said:

“I’m very tired, but it’s very hot, and I’m very grateful. Each of the 70.3 [wins] has been on a different continent, but it’s a great community and I always forget how much I love Ironman races.

Matthews said:

“I’m really proud. Taylor is just incredible and the whole women’s field really pulled it together out here. I did want this and I did expect I could do this or I wouldn’t have aimed for this ridiculous goal of the series and these two world championships.”

Ironman 70.3 World Championship: Women’s results

1. Taylor Knibb
2. Kat Matthews
3. Ashleigh Gentle
4. Imogen Simmonds
5. Julie Derron
6. Paula Findlay
7. Ellie Salthouse
8. Caroline Pohle
9. Tamara Jewett
10. Grace Thek