2025 IRONMAN™ World Championship Photo Essay

Sunday: Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) is first out of the water on the Sunday Ho’ala training swim along part of the course.

Monday: Some 5,000 volunteers make this race happen. This team is handing out race packets at the King Kam.

Wednesday: Not only a 14-time age group winner in Kona, Cherie Gruenfeld has established and raised funds for Exceeding Expectations, a highly successful program for under-privileged kids in southern California. On the Wednesday before the race, she was inducted into The IRONMAN Hall of Fame in The Huliheʻe Palace at the waterfront on Ali'i Drive.

Thursday: A wild and colourful affair, the annual Thursday morning Underpants Run (UPR) through Kailua town has become a tradition. Originally conceived of by Paul Huddle and Roch Frey, the substantial proceeds are donated to charity.

Capture Time 06:30: Laura Phillipp from Germany in the swim. She would eventually finish third with a time of 8:37:28.

Capture Time 06:50: The pro pack at the turnaround boat. Several favourites would be eaten by the course.

Capture Time 10:35: First out of the water, Lucy is here seen leading the bike. Taylor Knibb would later catch her and take the lead.

Capture Time 13:34: In third place since the 40-mile mark on the bike, Norway’s Solveig Løvseth is entering The Natural Energy Labs.

Capture Time 14:53: Solveig would hunt down both Lucy Charles-Barclay and Taylor Knibb (USA) to win this all-women IRONMAN World Championship in 8:27:28 (swim 55:40, bike 4:31:53, run 2:55:47, transitions 5:07). And, this was her first race in Kona.

Capture Time 18:21: Top three, Solveig, Kat Matthews (GBR) and Laura on the stage at the post-race press conference. Having posted a 2:47:43 run, Kat was a mere 35 seconds behind the winner at the finish and appeared quite delighted with the result.

Capture Time 17:58: #502 Dina Altayeb, F55-59, of Saudi Arabia in her 22nd full Ironman race. This would be her fifth Kona finish.

Capture Time 20:15: Junko Nakamura, F45-49, of Japan is delighted to cross the finish line with an expression few can muster.

Capture Time 22:37: Jill Walker (USA) at the finish in her last double-digit Ironman. The next finish will be number 100!

Capture Time 23:30: At 80 years young and in 16:45:26, Natalie Grabow (USA) is the oldest woman to have ever finished in Kona.

Capture Time 00:16: Akila Ogrady (USA) shares the delight of a finish with the race winner.

Capture Time 00:35: As is the custom, fire dancers close out the race.

Sunday Banquet: The top ten finishers on stage. Eight finished under nine hours, a remarkable achievement.