2004 Ironman Triathlon World Championship Photo Essay
Photos: Bakke-Svensson/WTC
Keikis (children) in the Tuesday parade through Kona town.
The Ironman Expo: where the rich and famous congregate...
At the portrait shoot a few days before the race, Norman Stadler’s carbon fiber Kuota Kalibur with mostly Campagnolo 10-speed Carbon Record components was the lightest.
Mark “The Zen Master” Allen and Dave “The Man” Scott on stage, discussing their epic battles of the 1980s. Dave won in 1980, October 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987. Mark won in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1995.
Easily a million bucks worth of bikes are left overnight Friday on The Pier for the Saturday race start.
For the first time in Ironman history, the pros start at 06:45, separated from the main field which started at 07:00.
Madame Pele's land is pretty bleak.
Peter Reid a few miles past "The Mounds" on his way back into town shows perfect streamlined form.
With the day’s second fastest bike split, Torbjørn Sindballe of Denmark shows good form on his Kestrel Talon SL, not far from the bike-to-run transition.
Norman gets off the bike and climbs the first hill in the lead, over twenty minutes ahead of Torbjørn Sindballe.
With the second fastest swim and bike splits, Nina starts the run with a commanding lead and never looks back.
Nina Kraft, Cameron Brown of New Zealand and Clas Björling of Sweden ran together through most of the Natural Energy Labs section.
It’s a long day, but it’s catered.
A view of the finish line from the athlete’s perspective. After some 42,175 meters of hard pavement, the last section is carpeted.
Mike Reilly interviews Norman after his victory.
The Kona sunsets are magical.
It seems Reiko Izumi (362) has just 'out-toed' Shigetaka Izumi (319) despite his larger feet. But who cares, they are Ironman finishers.
Studs! In the 75 to 79 age group, Bob Southwell of Australia (15:13) and Frank Farrar of the United States (16:45) both finished before midnight with time to spare.