Having not taken place on the island for a couple of years due to Covid-19, the 2022 IRONMAN World Championships are taking place this week back in Kona with the men’s and women's races being held separately for the first time.
With the 2021 edition taking place earlier this year in St. George, USA, this will be the second IRONMAN World Championships of the calendar year
The iconic race will kick-off with a 2.4 mile swim in Kailua Bay before the 112 mile bike leg from transition at the bay, along the coast to Hawi, and back. The final leg, a 26.2 mile run, will lead athletes south of transition to Panhoehoe Beach Park before taking them north to the airport and back to the finish at Kailua Bay.
Thursday 6 October will see the women’s race take place, with British athletes Ruth Astle, Lucy Charles-Barclay, Susie Cheetham, Fenella Langridge, Simone Mitchell, Chantel Sainter and Laura Siddall competing.
Charles-Barclay will be racing for her second world title of the year having already won the World Triathlon Long Distance Championships in Samorin on her return from injury.
The 2021 championships saw four Brits finish in the women’s top-ten. Kat Matthews finished second, with Astle crossing the line fifth. Siddall (7th) and Langridge (8th) were also amongst the fastest finishers.
In this year’s men’s race, which takes place on Saturday 8 October, David McNamee and Joe Skipper will bring the British interest.
Skipper took the win at IRONMAN Wales earlier in the year and secured a sixth-place finish the last time the championships were held in Hawaii in 2019. This is his best result to date at the world championships having finished seventh in 2018 and not raced in 2021.
At the 2021 World Championships in St. George earlier this year, McNamee earned a top-ten finish as he crossed the line in 08:04:35 to come nineth. In 2018 he finished on the podium and left the island having come third, matching his result from the year before.
On top of the elite races, Kona will welcome age group athletes in their masses as they make their way to compete in one of the most well-known and historic triathlon events.
This 140.6 mile challenge is a bucket list opportunity for many a triathlete, regardless of their level, with the experience around the racing as well as the swim, bike, run action something to be savoured.
Coverage of the pro races this week is available online at IRONMAN NOW.
To find out how to qualify for the 2023 IRONMAN World Championships, visit the IRONMAN website.
