For years, the triathlon world has watched with bated breath as elite athletes inched ever closer to what seemed an unbreakable milestone: the sub-2:30 marathon during a Full Distance triathlon. The likes of Patrick Lange and Kristian Blummenfelt came tantalizingly close, fueling speculation that one of them would eventually claim the honor.
But the history books had other plans.
This past weekend at Ironman Brazil, it was Brazil’s own Manoel Messias who etched his name in triathlon lore, delivering a blistering 2:26:50 marathon – not just breaking the mythical barrier but obliterating it.
The feat is even more astonishing considering this was Messias’ debut at the Long Distance. Yes, his first-ever Long Distance triathlon, and he storms into the scene with a marathon split that redefines the outer limits of human endurance under Ironman fatigue.
And yet, in a twist that underscores just how fast the race was, Messias didn’t win. That honor went to Argentina’s Luciano Taccone, who also turned in a lightning-fast performance, finishing in 7:31:46 – the third-fastest Ironman time ever recorded.
According to Strava data, the course distances for Ironman Brazil were accurate and within official margins, cementing these results as legitimate and historically significant.
Messias’ performance isn’t just a record – it’s a statement. A new standard has been set, and the endurance world is officially on notice. The era of the sub-2:30 Long Distance marathon has begun.
