KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i (Oct. 26, 2024) – The world’s top male triathletes had the world watching as they swam, biked and ran across the iconic IRONMAN World Championship course in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i today.
The 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon kicked off this morning in the waters of Kailua Bay, as athletes tackled the 2.4-mile (3.8km) ROKA Swim Course before heading out on the 112-mile (180.2km) FulGaz™ Bike Course, renowned for its historic long sustained climbs, strong crosswinds, and exposed terrain beauty with lava fields on one side and the ocean coastline on the other. The final leg of the race saw athletes take on the 26.2-mile (42.2km) HOKA Run Course, an out-and-back that takes athletes past the spirited crowds on Ali`i Drive, up Palani Road to the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway and to the infamous HOST Park at the National Energy Laboratory Hawai`i Authority (NELHA). Athletes completed their journey to the roar of thousands of spectators as they crossed the historic Ali`i Drive finish line, all doing all three disciplines within the 17-hour cut-off.
ARIAL ALOHA: Kailua-Kona welcomes Patrick Lange (DEU) as he crosses the finish line and earns his third world championship title at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon – (Donald Miralle / IRONMAN)
OFF THEY GO: The world’s best professional and age group triathletes take off on the ROKA Swim Course as the canon singles the start of the men’s 2024 IRONMAN World Championship triathlon
JUMPING OFF: French professional Leon Chevalier jumps into the waters of Kailua Bay ahead of the start of the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i -(Sean Haffey / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
FINAL TOUCHES: Sam Laidlow (FRA) and Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) put the final touches on their race preparations while in transition on race morning ahead of the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona, Hawai`i – (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
AQUATIC PERSPECTIVE: Athletes begin their journey above the stunning coral reefs in Kailua Bay while undertaking the 2.4-mile ROKA Swim Course at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon – (Donald Miralle / IRONMAN)
ISLAND VIBES: Travis Johnston of South Africa rides beneath the palm tree-lined Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway while on the FulGaz Bike Course at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona, Hawai`i – (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
MAKING WAVES: A wave of athletes make their way through Kailua Bay as they compete on the ROKA Swim Course at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona, Hawai`i – (Donald Miralle / IRONMAN)
A STEP AHEAD: Defending champion, Sam Laidlow (FRA) exits transition 2 in the lead and heads out onto Palani Rd to tackle the 26.2-mile HOKA Run Course at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i – (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
HATTRICK LANGE: Germany’s Patrick Lange earns his third IRONMAN World Championship title while setting a new course best time of 7:35:53 and taking home $125,000 USD in prize money – (Donald Miralle / IRONMAN) | (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
SPEED ZONE: Defending IRONMAN World Champion Sam Laidlow (FRA) soars to the fastest bike split of the day, breaking his own course best time by seven minutes, clocking a time of 3:57:33. Laidlow was one of seven professionals who also rode under the previous bike course best – (Donald Miralle / IRONMAN)
DANISH DETERMINATION: Denmark’s Magnus Ditlev flies down the HOKA Run Course en route to earning his first podium finish at the IRONMAN World Championship – (Donald Miralle / IRONMAN)
LAVA FIELDS FOREVER: Athletes cruise past the lava fields lining the iconic Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway while on the 112-mile FulGaz Bike Course at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona, Hawai`i – (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
ALI’I WELCOME: Athletes celebrate as they make their way down the final stretch of the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon to the crowds of onlooking supporters – (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
FINISHING WHAT HE STARTED: An exhausted Sam Laidlow proudly makes his way across the finish line at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. Laidlow held the race lead into the early stages of the run thanks to a new bike course best time of 3:57:33, before hitting the proverbial wall. Despite struggling to continue, Laidlow showcased the grit of a defending champion and regained his composure to make it to the finish line in 18th place – (Donald Miralle / IRONMAN)