Ironman World Championship
Encyclopedia
The Ironman World Championship has been held annually in Hawaii
since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and is currently sponsored by Ford. It is the annual culmination of a series of Ironman triathlon
qualification races held throughout the world.
, the course combining that of three events already held there: the Waikiki
Roughwater Swim (2.4 mi./3.86 km), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 mi./185.07 km, originally a two-day event), and the Honolulu Marathon
. In order to link the end of the bike stage to the start of the marathon course, the bike stage was reduced by 3 miles. In 1981 the race was moved to the less urbanized Big Island
, keeping the distances the same: a 2.4 miles (3.86 km) open water swim
in Kailua-Kona Bay, a 112 miles (180.25 km) bike
ride across the Hawaiian lava desert to Hāwī
and back, and a marathon
(26 miles 385 yards, 42.195 km) run along the coast of the Big Island from Keauhou to Keahole Point
and back to Kailua-Kona, finishing on Alii Drive.
Since 1982 the race has been held in the fall each year, before which it was held in the spring, giving two races in 1982. The most recent Ironman World Championship took place on October 8, 2011. Qualifying for the World Championship is achieved through placement in one of the other Ironman races or some Ironman 70.3
races.
The current Ironman Hawaii course record was set in 2011 by Craig Alexander
(Australia), whose winning time was 8 hrs 3 mins 56 sec. The women's course record is 8 hrs 54 mins 2 sec, set in 2009 by Chrissie Wellington
(Great Britain).
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and is currently sponsored by Ford. It is the annual culmination of a series of Ironman triathlon
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
qualification races held throughout the world.
History
From 1978 through 1980 the race was held on the island of OahuOahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, the course combining that of three events already held there: the Waikiki
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
Roughwater Swim (2.4 mi./3.86 km), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 mi./185.07 km, originally a two-day event), and the Honolulu Marathon
Honolulu Marathon
The Honolulu Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons. It takes place annually in Honolulu, Hawaii on the second Sunday in December. - History :...
. In order to link the end of the bike stage to the start of the marathon course, the bike stage was reduced by 3 miles. In 1981 the race was moved to the less urbanized Big Island
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
, keeping the distances the same: a 2.4 miles (3.86 km) open water swim
Open water swimming
Open water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, canals, and reservoirs.The beginning of the modern age of open water swimming is sometimes taken to be May 3, 1810, when Lord Byron swam several miles to cross the Hellespont from Europe to Asia.In...
in Kailua-Kona Bay, a 112 miles (180.25 km) bike
Bicycle racing
Bicycle racing is a competition sport in which various types of bicycles are used. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, bike trials, and cycle speedway. Bicycle racing is recognised as an Olympic sport...
ride across the Hawaiian lava desert to Hāwī
Hawi, Hawai'i
Hawi is a census-designated place in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 938 at the 2000 census.Hawi is situated to the west of the community of Kapaau. Together they comprise the most densely populated region in the district of North Kohala...
and back, and a marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
(26 miles 385 yards, 42.195 km) run along the coast of the Big Island from Keauhou to Keahole Point
Keahole Point
Keāhole Point is the westernmost point of the island of Hawaii. The Kona International Airport was moved here from directly north of the town of Kailua-Kona in 1970, when the previous smaller airstrip was converted into the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area...
and back to Kailua-Kona, finishing on Alii Drive.
Since 1982 the race has been held in the fall each year, before which it was held in the spring, giving two races in 1982. The most recent Ironman World Championship took place on October 8, 2011. Qualifying for the World Championship is achieved through placement in one of the other Ironman races or some Ironman 70.3
Ironman 70.3
An Ironman 70.3, also known as a Half Ironman, is one of a series of middle-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation . The "70.3" refers to the total distance in miles covered in the race, consisting of a swim, a bike ride, and a run...
races.
The current Ironman Hawaii course record was set in 2011 by Craig Alexander
Craig Alexander (triathlete)
Craig Alexander is an Australian triathlete who is the 2008, 2009 & 2011 Ironman Triathlon World Champion. He is only the fourth man to win the Ironman World Championship two years in a row; the others were Dave Scott, Mark Allen, and Tim DeBoom. He is also only the fourth man to win the Ironman...
(Australia), whose winning time was 8 hrs 3 mins 56 sec. The women's course record is 8 hrs 54 mins 2 sec, set in 2009 by Chrissie Wellington
Chrissie Wellington
Christine Ann Wellington MBE , known as Chrissie Wellington, is an English triathlete and the current Ironman Triathlon World Champion...
(Great Britain).
Men
| Year | Gold | Time | Silver | Time | Bronze | Time |
| 2011 2011 Ironman World Championship The 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship was held on October 8, 2011 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was the 35th such Ironman Triathlon World Championships, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982... |
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| 2010 2010 Ironman World Championship The 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship was held on October 9, 2010 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was the 34th such Ironman Triathlon World Championships, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978. The 2010 Championship was won by Chris McCormack and Mirinda Carfrae... |
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| 2009 2009 Ironman World Championship The 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship was held on October 10, 2009 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was the 33rd such Ironman Triathlon World Championship, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978. The champions were Craig Alexander and Chrissie Wellington... |
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| 2008 2008 Ironman World Championship The 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship was held on October 11, 2008 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was the 32nd such Ironman Triathlon World Championship, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978. The champions were Craig Alexander and Chrissie Wellington... |
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| 2007 2007 Ironman World Championship The 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship was a triathlon race held on October 13, 2007 in Kailua, Hawaii County, Hawaii. It was the 31st Ironman World Championship, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978. The champions were Chris McCormack and Chrissie Wellington. The championship was... |
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| Year | Gold | Time | Silver | Time | Bronze | Time |
| 2011 2011 Ironman World Championship The 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship was held on October 8, 2011 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was the 35th such Ironman Triathlon World Championships, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982... |
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| 2010 2010 Ironman World Championship The 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship was held on October 9, 2010 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was the 34th such Ironman Triathlon World Championships, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978. The 2010 Championship was won by Chris McCormack and Mirinda Carfrae... |
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| 2009 2009 Ironman World Championship The 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship was held on October 10, 2009 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was the 33rd such Ironman Triathlon World Championship, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978. The champions were Craig Alexander and Chrissie Wellington... |
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| 2008 2008 Ironman World Championship The 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship was held on October 11, 2008 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was the 32nd such Ironman Triathlon World Championship, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978. The champions were Craig Alexander and Chrissie Wellington... |
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| 2007 2007 Ironman World Championship The 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship was a triathlon race held on October 13, 2007 in Kailua, Hawaii County, Hawaii. It was the 31st Ironman World Championship, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978. The champions were Chris McCormack and Chrissie Wellington. The championship was... |
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