It was a shocking sight – one that will linger in the minds of triathlon fans for a long time. First came Lucy Charles-Barclay, visibly staggering before stepping off the course at the Ironman World Championship in Kona. Only a few kilometers later, Taylor Knibb, clearly disoriented, turned around before collapsing to the ground. Both athletes had been among the main protagonists of Saturday’s iconic race, but in the brutal Hawaiian heat, their bodies finally gave out within sight of the finish.
Fortunately, both Charles-Barclay and Knibb are now doing well. They were immediately taken to the medical tent for evaluation, and after a series of checks, officials confirmed that both were recovering and in stable condition. By Sunday morning local time – less than 24 hours after their harrowing exits – the two were even spotted having breakfast together, a reassuring image after such a dramatic night.
Lucy Charles-Barclay has since spoken out on her own social channels. “This race has been the heartbeat of our lives for the past decade, everything my husband and I do revolves around this one day on the Big Island.
“Yesterday, I raced with my heart. I stuck to my plan, nailed my nutrition, and used all of my usual cooling strategies. It was all going so well… until it wasn’t. I’m endlessly grateful for the love and care my husband showed in stepping in and taking me off the course.
“Health will always come first. As special as this race is, there will always be another start line, another chance, another year for the history books. That’s the unpredictable nature of Kona; it’s what draws us all in, to its beauty and its brutality.”