40 ICONIC HAWAII MOMENTS
We count down the top 40 highlights from 40 years of the Ironman World Championships
It’s the ultimate endurance challenge and has been captivating the sporting world since 1978. But what are the most memorable events in Ironman’s 40-year adventure in Hawaii? From “too much gluuuue” to Iron Wars, here we present 40 of the greatest moments from Kona’s epic history
40 IRONMAN IS BORN
US Navy Commander John Collins and his wife Judy decided to put an end to a debate about who was the fittest – swimmers, cyclists or runners – by combining Hawaii’s three biggest endurance races. So the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 miles), the Around-Oahu Cycle Race (115 miles) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles) became Ironman Hawaii.
39 THE FIRST IRONMAN
Ironman Hawaii was first staged on 18 February 1978 in Honolulu. A field of 15 male athletes started, with 12 crossing the finish line. Each were rewarded with a handmade trophy. Sports Illustrated would cover the 1979 race and the entrant numbers would increase to 108 the next year.
38 GORDON HALLER IS THE FIRST CHAMPION
In the first year, and at a time without many of the tech enhancements of today, American triathlete Gordon Haller became the first Ironman after 11:46:58.
37 ERIN BAKER ARRIVES
The life of Kiwi athlete Erin Baker was long punctuated by controversy, including throwing explosive devices during the South African rugby tour of New Zealand in the apartheid days. Sometimes her rebellious ways have overshadowed her racing achievements. These include her Kona win in 1987. In the tightest battle for podium places yet, Baker eclipsed previous winners Sylviane Puntous and Paula Newby-Fraser on the run to smash the course record by 14mins.
36 LANGE’S MAGIC RUN
In 2016, Germany’s Patrick Lange raced into the Kona history books by breaking Mark Allen’s run-course record with a 2:39hr split. Lying 23rd in T2, his phenomenal run led him to finish third. He’d go even better in 2017 by smashing the course record.
35 GRIDIRON MAN
1995 saw American footballer Darryl Haley become the largest person yet to complete Kona at 195cm and weighing almost 136kg. It was estimated that Haley burned 17,000 calories during the event.
34 RYF BREAKS THE COURSE RECORD
After winning her first Kona crown in 2015, Daniela Ryf confirmed her position as the dominant force in women’s Ironman a year later with a new course record of 8:46:46.
33 LYN LEMAIRE IS THE FIRST FEMALE WINNER
In 1979, America’s Lyn Lemaire became the first woman to win in a time of 12:55:38.
32 TWIN PEAKS
Up to 1982, US female athletes had dominated Ironman Hawaii. Then, in 1983 and 1984, two identical Canadian twins showed up and blew away the competition. On both occasions, Sylviane edged her sister Patricia to the title, and in doing so became the first non-US winner in Hawaii.
31 AGE IS NO LIMIT
In 2005, Robert McKeague finished in 16:21:55 at the age of 80. Hiromu Inada later beat that record twice, crossing the line in 2016 and 2018 at the age of 85.
30 “TOO MUCH GLUUUUE!”
A year after obliterating the bikecourse record, Normann Stadler became famous for the wrong reasons in 2005. He suffered a puncture, but a mechanic had glued the tyre to the wheel so heavily that Stadler was unable to change it. Sadly for the German, the NBC cameras caught his meltdown, and his shouts of ‘Too much gluuuue!’ have become a YouTube classic. His race was finished but he regained his composure to congratulate Faris Al-Sultan at the finish line. Oh, and he came back to win in 2006.
29 KONA ARRIVAL
In 1981, Valerie Silk moved the race from Honolulu to Kailua-Kona, on Hawaii’s Big Island.
28 WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS
US broadcaster ABC brought Kona into the living rooms of Americans for the first time in 1980.
27 AN ERA OF NICKNAMES
Mark Allen became ‘The Grip’ ahead of the ’84 edition and the major players of the era soon found nicknames, from Dave ‘The Man’ Scott to Mike ‘Pigg Power’ Pigg and Scott ‘The Terminator’ Molina.
26 THE IRON NUN
Elite action is only one story of Kona, and it remains a Mecca for the planet’s greatest age-groupers. One of the most high-profile is Sister Madonna Buder, who, at 75, became the oldest woman ever to complete Kona in 2005.
25 HERE COME THE GERMANS
The early years of Kona were dominated by North American athletes, but the German über-bikers truly arrived in 1997 with a clean sweep of the men’s podium places topped by Thomas Hellriegel.
24 SCOTT TINLEY USES TRI- BARS
Scott Tinley used aerobars for the first time (see p24) in 1985. Dave Scott wasn’t racing but sat in the lead vehicle and encouraged Tinley to a record 8:50hr finish.
“Elite action is only one story of Kona, and it remains a triathlon Mecca for the planet’s greatest age-groupers”
23 A CARFRAE CLASSIC
The mark of a true champ is their ability to reinvent themselves. After a relatively disappointing third place in 2012, the hugely-popular Aussie Mirinda Carfrae came back in 2013 with a different coach (Siri Lindley), a new bike (the Felt IA) and smaller wheels to break Chrissie Wellington’s women’s course record in 8:52:14.
22 DEBOOM’S 2001 VICTORY
The 2001 edition took place just weeks after the tragic events of 9/11 and with uncertainty looming over if the race would even take place. Come race day, an emotional crowd saw Tim DeBoom cross the finish line to become the last American athlete to win the Kona title.
21 THE YEAR OF SPEED
Aided by calmer and cooler conditions than usual, the 2018 edition saw records falling at every juncture. Brit Lucy Charles first broke the swim course record, before Cameron Wurf smashed the bike course record and Daniela Ryf did the bike/overall course combo. But it was Patrick Lange becoming the first man to dip under the 8hr barrier in Kona that was the icing on the very fast cake.
20 KAREN SMYERS WINS TWO WORLDS
In 1995, America’s Karen Smyers became the first woman to win both the Ironman World Championships and the ITU World Championships in the same year. It’s a feat yet to be repeated by any female triathlete... and quite probably never will.
19 CROWIE’S GREATEST
Kona 2010 marked a rare low for Craig Alexander after he finished in fourth place. As one of the most consummate pro athletes to grace the sport, Crowie used that stinging defeat to come back stronger in 2011. The 38-year-old ripped up his existing bike contract to join Specialized and sought advice from Dave Scott, especially in strength and conditioning. He returned to Hawaii a stronger allround athlete. After eight hours, 3mins and 56secs of racing, the Aussie was leaping across the finish line as the Ironman world champion once again. In the process he broke the course record, became the oldest-ever winner of Hawaii and the first man to win full- and halfIronman titles in the same year.
18 BOWDEN VERSUS REID
Mark Allen and Julie Moss, Greg and Sian Welch… Kona history is full of iron couples. Yet none came so close to winning in the same year as Canadians Peter Reid and Lori Bowden. The problem for the pair in 2003 was their marriage had ended a week before race day.
“There was no way she was going to win and I wasn’t,” said Reid. The ex-couple would produce the goods, with Reid taking his last of three titles, Bowden her final of two. The awards ceremony even had to be rearranged so the duo wouldn’t appear together on the podium.
17 GERAMI BREAKS BOUNDARIES
Shirin Gerami spent much of the build-up to the 2016 event trying to gain approval from Iran’s sports ministry to take part. They finally relented and, after 13:11hrs, she became the first athlete wearing a hijab to finish Hawaii.
16 DAVE SCOTT RETURNS
It may have been Greg Welch’s day (see no. 13), but most eyes were on Dave Scott in 1994, who came out of retirement to take second in a time of 8:24:32 at the age of 40.
15 BLAZEMAN ROLLS
American age-grouper Jon Blais was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2004, which damages the motor neurons in the brain. Despite losing the use of his fingers, the Blazeman still completed the 2005 race in 16:28:56. His finish line log roll would thereafter be performed by many pro and age-group athletes.
14 SCOTT WINS HIS SIXTH
Dave Scott’s career looms over Hawaii and he was the first athlete to dominate the event. He won his first title in 1980 and his last win came in 1987.
13 GREG WELCH TAKES THE GRAND SLAM
Aussie Greg Welch’s 1994 victory broke the USA’s domination of the men’s event, becoming the first man to scoop the Grand Slam of tri – world titles in Ironman, Olympic-distance, duathlon and long-course events.
12 CHRISSIE BECOMES THE FIRST UK WINNER
Hawaii history is littered with athletes who suffered in the lava fields on their first attempt. Not so a barely-known athlete from Norfolk. Chrissie Wellington pulled out all the stops to win the title in 2007, only turning pro that year and having only raced one previous Ironman six weeks before... which she also won.
11 NATASCHA BADMANN MAKES IT SIX
The gutsy Swiss star Natascha Badmann won her first Kona title in 1998 before three consecutive wins from 2000-02, and another in 2004. On that occasion Germany’s Nina Kraft was the first across the line. A month later, though, Kraft was found guilty of EPO use. The 2004 title was now Badmann’s, yet the victory left a bitter taste. Badmann would return for a final fairytale win in 2005, where she produced a classic with the ITU-conquering Aussie Michellie Jones. Badmann unleashed her finest Big Island run to pass Jones at 30km and soak up the adulation of Ali’i Drive for her final Kona victory.
10 MACLEAN IS THE FIRST WHEELCHAIR FINISHER
Aussie John Maclean was hit by a lorry while training in 1988. Undeterred, he became the first wheelchair athlete to conquer Kona in 1995. While wheeling himself up one hill, friend Johnno Young said to him: “The pain won’t last forever, but the memories will.”
“Andreas, best of luck. No matter what happens here, you’re a champion. May the best man win”
09 FRODENO WINS TRI’S ULTIMATE COMBO
In 2015, Germany’s Jan Frodeno became the first athlete to do the Olympic Games (2008) and Ironman World Championship-winning combo after scoring victory in Kona in a time of 8:14:40. What’s more, he’d already won the Ironman 70.3 World Champs in 2015.
08 CHRISSIE’S FOURTH AND GREATEST VICTORY
“I want to cross the finish line feeling like I’ve given it physically and mentally absolutely everything. This year I got my wish,” was Chrissie Wellington’s verdict after she maintained her unbeaten Ironman record in 2011.
Ten days before the race, a bike crash in training had seen Chrissie’s leg swell to double its size. Five days before the race, Chrissie had to be pulled out of the pool because her pec muscle was so sore. Cut to T1 on race day and a battered and bruised Wellington was nearly 10mins behind the leaders. By T2 she was still 22mins down on fellow Brit Julie Dibens. After three dominant Kona victories, here was Chrissie pushed to the limit.
After passing the Brit trio of Dibens, Rachel Joyce and Leanda Cave by the halfmarathon point in a 1:22hr split, Swiss athlete Caroline Steffen was next in Chrissie’s crosshairs. A 2:52hr marathon sealed the win, her fourth and greatest Hawaii victory. Waiting at the finish was an IV drip and the best possible end to her forthcoming autobiography, the aptly-titled A Life Without Limits.
07 THE HOYTS’ EMOTIONAL FINISH IN 1989
Father-and-son pair Dick and Rick Hoyt memorably finished the 1989 Ironman together. What made their feat so special was that Dick towed his paralysed son in a boat in the swim, propelled him on a specially-made bike and pushed him in a wheelchair for the run. An outpouring of emotion greeted them at the finish line.
05 A 21ST CENTURY IRON WAR
A master tactician and one hell of an athletic performer. These traits and more were evident in October 2010, when Australia’s Chris McCormack won his masterpiece in Hawaii. The seeds of success were planted twelve months before, with his fourth place in the 2009 event. Macca then began recruiting strong bikers to form an alliance with him to topple the stronger runners in the field.
After a series of calculated bike surges throughout the 180km bike leg, the alliance had dealt with Craig Alexander’s chances of victory, creating a 9min advantage out of T2 for Macca. His concern now was the presence of German superstar Andreas Raelert 2mins behind him. Raelert caught Macca with 5km to go. After over seven hours and 221km of racing it’d come down to a 5km duel. In one of Kona’s most iconic moments, Macca turned to Raelert and said, “Andreas, best of luck. No matter what happens here, you’re a champion. May the best man win.”
With 1km to go, Raelert went to take cola at the aid station and Macca produced the decisive break. The race was in the bag by Ali’i Drive, with Macca crossing the line in 8:10:37 to win the greatest Hawaii battle of the 21st century.
06 THE JOY OF SIX FOR MARK ALLEN
Nicknamed ‘The Grip’, Mark Allen won five consecutive victories from 1989 to 1993. He didn’t start in 1994, but in 1995 he wouldn’t be denied, equalling Dave Scott’s record of six titles in another epic showdown, this time with Germany’s Thomas Hellriegel.
04 THE CRAWL OFF
In the 1997 edition, Sian Welch (wife of Greg) started to stumble on Ali’i Drive only minutes to the finish. Around the final bend she turned to see Wendy Ingraham close behind. Ingraham was in a similarly-depleted physical state. As they hit the finish-chute carpet in their race for fourth, they both fell. Trying to stand and run to the line only feet away, they both collapsed again.
Eventually, Ingraham discovered that crawling to the line on all fours was the best option. Welch followed, but couldn’t catch up. The ‘crawl’, as it has become known, is one of the most talked-about finish-line dramas in the event’s history, and led a commentator to remark: “Their bodies were obliterated but their spirit stayed firm.”
03 PNF WINS HER EIGHTH
Paula NewbyFraser became the most successful athlete in Hawaii history with her record eighth victory in 1996. Her Hawaiian adventure started with a win in 1986, and during this time she’d only be beaten by Karen Smyers and Erin Baker.
02 JULIE MOSS CRAWLS TO THE LINE
Arguably Kona’s most defining moment came in 1982, when college graduate Julie Moss crawled, stumbled and staggered up the Ironman Hawaii finish line to claim second place in front of the ABC Wide World of Sports TV cameras. Those pictures were later beamed to millions of households around the world. Far from turning people away from the gruelling swim, bike and run format, Moss’s heroic efforts vividly captured the essence and attraction of the sport.
Julie Moss’ main reason for entering for the 1982 edition was to gather data for her exercise physiology thesis. On race day in February 1982 (two editions were held that year), Moss exited the 3.8km swim with the leaders and held her own on the bike leg. Moss inherited the lead on the run but only realised when she noticed the news crews trailing her with 15km to go. Her pre-race aim to finish was upgraded to take the title. As Moss drew closer to the finish line, fatigue began to overwhelm an exhausted body fuelled by just bananas and water since the race’s start. She continually dropped to the ground as her legs buckled under her but recovered enough to press on. With only feet to go, fellow American Kathleen McCartney shot past Moss and crossed the line first, unaware of Moss’s plight until an organiser told her of the breaking story metres back down the finish line. All Moss could do was crawl to the tape, crossing the line 29secs after her compatriot.
ABC would label the event ‘one of the most defining moments in sport’, with the chief protagonist becoming the first triathlete to truly transcend the sport. Proving that you can lose a race… but still be a winner.
“Their bodies were obliterated but their spirits stayed firm”