Walking. Staggering. Falling to the ground multiple times and trying to get up and keep going every single time: the images will not be forgotten quickly and will be discussed for a long time to come. The fact remains that Solveig Løvseth was completely overcome by the heat in the very last kilometer of the Ironman World Championship, handing over an almost certain victory in Kona. Taylor Knibb capitalised fully, taking the win and her first Ironman world title on the Big Island.
It must have been a bizarre sense of déjà vu for Taylor Knibb; last year, the American athlete went down in a similar fashion to Løvseth, making her the one to lose a virtually guaranteed victory back then. This year, with just 1.5 kilometers to go, Løvseth was defending a 1:15 minute lead over Knibb when things went completely wrong. Entirely disoriented and with zero control over her own body, Løvseth hit the ground multiple times, ran in the wrong direction at points, and simply couldn’t keep going. About ten kilometers earlier, things had already gone wrong for Lucy Charles-Barclay, who – also just like last year – was overcome by the heat and was unable to continue. The climax of the Ironman World Championship turned into a truly bizarre one.
The fact that Lucy Charles-Barclay dominated the swim didn’t end up mattering much. That Taylor Knibb swam well, giving up about a minute and a half before quickly riding to the front on the bike: it was all secondary. Both women went on to stage a magnificent battle on the bike, repeatedly trading places and refusing to give an inch. It brought great flair to the race and made for pure spectacle.
With about 50 kilometers to go, Knibb finally managed to drop Charles-Barclay. Over those final kilometers, she extended her lead to over three minutes. Løvseth entered T2 in third place, sitting 4:48 back.
Knibb held the lead for a long time during the marathon, but Løvseth kept taking time out of her. At around the 30-kilometer mark, Charles-Barclay was forced to pull over to the side of the road, and after 34 kilometers, Knibb could only watch as Løvseth flew past her. The American looked exhausted and began losing time rapidly; Løvseth seemed destined to defend her title.
Until that final kilometer, which served as yet another reminder of just how brutal triathlon is and how much pro athletes demand of their bodies.
Knibb won the Ironman World Championship – her first – in 8:36:29. Laura Philipp, who started the marathon ten minutes back, finished second in 8:39:34. Julie Derron took third in 8:46:25.
Top ten
- Taylor Knibb: 8:36:29
- Laura Philipp: 8:39:34
- Julie Derron: 8:46:25
- Kat Matthews: 8:49:38
- Imogen Simmonds: 8:51:44
- Lisa Perterer: 8:52:54
- Hannah Berry: 8:59:41
- Solveig Lovseth: 9:02:09
- Anne-Sophie Pierre: 9:03:49
- Grace Thek: 9:06:37
