HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Ironman World Championship will take place this weekend in Kona.
The world’s premier triathlon is back on Hawaii Island this weekend, and roughly 1,600 female athletes are set to take on the 140.6-mile course in Kailua-Kona.
“I think it’s reasonable to say that this might be the most incredible field that we’ve ever seen,” said Ironman Group CEO Scott DeRue.
The field features athletes from 78 different countries, three previous champions, and 19 of the top female athletes in the Ironman world rankings.
The women are returning to Kona after competing in Nice, France, last year.
“It’s incredibly special. With Kona, there’s something special about it,” DeRue said. “You can read about it, you can watch it on television, (and) people can tell you about it. But you don’t truly understand it. You don’t truly appreciate it, and you don’t truly feel it, unless you’re here. And the energy this week, all around Kona, has been electric.”
Former Ironman champion Lucy Charles-Barclay said it’s not just the course competitors are racing.
“Every year it’s brutal on this island, and despite the field, obviously you’re racing the women that are either side of you or in front or behind you, but more so you’re racing yourself and the conditions here, and that doesn’t really change despite the field,” she said.
This will be the final year the men’s and women’s races will be in different locations, as both return to Hawaii Island for a combined race in 2026.
“It’s something I’m really looking forward to experience for one last time,” said 2024 Ironman champion Laura Philipp. “I think it was, yeah, something great, something I really enjoyed, and to get the full attention, to have all the TV commentators talk only about the women for eight-plus hours is special, and I will try to really enjoy this last edition.”
The 2025 Women’s Ironman World Championship is set for Saturday at 6:25 a.m.
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