In what can only be described as one of the most thrilling battles in recent Ironman history, Germany’s Laura Philipp claimed the European Championship title in Hamburg after a dramatic and relentless duel with Great Britain’s Kat Matthews. The race, which saw the two women locked in a near-constant shoulder-to-shoulder battle from start to finish, ended with Philipp taking the win in a blistering Ironman record time of 8:03:13.
A Fierce Trio Sets the Pace Early
The day began with a clear front group emerging from the water, as Matthews, Philipp, and Norwegian debutant Solveig Løvseth exited the swim together in 54:38, with defending champion Jackie Hering also in tow. However, Hering quickly lost contact during the early stages of the bike, leaving the leading trio of Matthews, Philipp and Løvseth to set a brutal pace that soon left the rest of the field trailing by minutes.
Lovseth Impresses on Long Distance Debut
Racing her first-ever full-distance Ironman, Løvseth delivered a standout performance by sticking with the more experienced Matthews and Philipp through most of the 180km bike leg. But with around 25 kilometers to go, the inevitable cracks began to show, and she began to drop off the back. Matthews launched a decisive late attack, surging into a solo lead, while Philipp followed in close pursuit. Matthews’ scorching bike split of 4:22:45 underlined just how aggressive the pace had been.
A Duel for the Ages on the Run
As the marathon began, it quickly became clear this was a two-woman race. Løvseth, despite her brave effort on the bike, couldn’t match the blistering tempo set by Matthews and Philipp. The two powered through the first half-marathon in a staggering 1:18, pushing the limits of what’s possible in full-distance racing and flirting with Anne Haug’s world-best time of 8:02:38 (Challenge Roth, 2024).
Matthews maintained a narrow lead for much of the run, with Philipp hanging about 30 seconds behind. With 15 kilometers to go, Matthews even extended her lead to 45 seconds, and it looked like she might finally break free. But Philipp dug deep, showing incredible grit and composure. By the 33-kilometer mark, she had reeled Matthews in and made the decisive pass.
From there, Philipp surged ahead with unwavering determination. She steadily grew her lead over the final stretch, ultimately breaking the tape in a sensational 8:03:13, just two minutes ahead of Matthews, who finished in 8:05:13. Philipp’s run time: 2:38:27. Løvseth completed the podium with a phenomenal debut time of 8:12:28, making it one of the fastest and closest Ironman finishes in history.
