The Ironman World Championship in Kona has just unfolded into a spectacular – and at times truly bizarre – battle among the women who were widely regarded as the pre-race favorites: Taylor Knibb and Lucy Charles-Barclay. Chasing a little further behind, Solveig Lovseth, Kat Matthews, and Laura Philipp were also in the mix. But as both Charles-Barclay and Knibb succumbed to the searing Kona heat in the final stages – staggering along the course before ultimately being forced to withdraw – it was these three athletes who seized their chance and claimed the podium spots.
Swim: Charles-Barclay Sets the Tone
As expected, Charles-Barclay dominated the swim from the gun, clocking 49:29 – not quite a course record, but faster than her time from last year. She immediately split the field apart, with a chase group including Haley Chura, Holly Lawrence, Taylor Knibb, Rebecca Clarke, Marta Sanchez, Chelsea Sodaro, and Lotte Wilms trailing by about 90 seconds.
Further back, a second strong group emerged, featuring Laura Philipp, Kat Matthews, Solveig Lovseth, and Lisa Perterer – all over six minutes down.
Bike: Knibb Closes the Gap and Takes Control
On the bike, the race quickly became a two-woman show. Charles-Barclay led solo for the first 90 kilometers, maintaining around a two-minute gap over Knibb. But as the field approached the iconic climb to Hawi, Knibb found another gear – erasing her deficit in just ten kilometers and joining the Brit at the front.
Not long after, Charles-Barclay dropped a bottle and was handed a one-minute penalty, which she served immediately. That brief stop cost her the vital connection to Knibb, who continued to surge ahead.
Knibb reached T2 first, holding a 1:26 advantage over Charles-Barclay, with Lovseth in third nearly six minutes down. Philipp entered transition fourth, more than fifteen minutes behind, flanked by Kat Matthews, Jocelyn McCauley, and Holly Lawrence.
Run: Heat, Heartbreak, and Triumph
The marathon delivered the day’s real drama. Knibb led early, but Charles-Barclay’s pace was visibly stronger, and by the time they reached the infamous Palani Hill, the Brit surged past to retake the lead to roars from the crowd. For a brief moment, it seemed Charles-Barclay might be on her way to the world title that has long eluded her.
But the Hawaiian sun had other plans. Just past the halfway mark, Charles-Barclay began to struggle badly with the heat – forced to walk through an aid station to drink and cool down. Knibb seized the opportunity, rejoining her rival, and for a few memorable kilometers the two ran side by side in an epic duel.
Then the tide turned for good. Charles-Barclay, visibly overheated and swaying, began to falter. Eventually, with around 13 kilometers remaining, her husband and coach intervened, pulling her from the race to prevent serious harm.
Knibb Collapses in the Final Moments as Solveig Lovseth Strikes for an Unforgettable Ironman World Title
For Taylor Knibb, the path seemed clear toward her first Ironman world title – though she still had more than ten kilometers to run to make it official. Behind her, Solveig Lovseth was closing fast, setting up a surprisingly tense finale, but it initially looked as though she would fall just short of victory.
Then it happened. Knibb, too, succumbed to the brutal Kona heat – even more dramatically than Lucy Charles-Barclay before her. Completely disoriented, she staggered down the course, spinning in circles before finally collapsing to the ground. Just moments later, Solveig Lovseth swept past her, seizing the lead and securing an unforgettable Ironman World Championship triumph.
Lovseth won the race in 8:28:27. Matthews finished second in 8:29:02 and Philipp finished third in 8:37:28.
Top 10:
1. Solveigh Lovseth – 8:28:27
2. Kat Matthews – 8:29:02
3. Laura Philipp – 8:37:28
4. Hannah Berry – 8:46:25
5. Lisa Perterer – 8:48:08
6. Holly Lawrence – 8:52:40
7. Jocelyn McCauley – 8:59:33
8. Sara Svensk – 8:59:58
9. Leonie Konczalla – 9:00:04
10. Marlene de Boer – 9:00:20