A Japanese competitor at Ironman Hawaii put the feeling of crossing the finish line at Kona the best: Behind that line is hell. Beyond the line is heaven.

All photos © Timothy Carlson

Michelle Vesterby of Denmark was over the moon with her 4th place finish in 9:18:50.

Daniela Ryf posted the tied-for-6th best women's finish in Kona with her 8:57:57 performance - equaled by Mirinda Carfrae's 2nd-place finish in 2011.

Rachel Joyce basks in the warmth of the crowd for her third Kona podium and twice 2nd-place Kona finish.

The women's podium - Rachel Joyce, Daniela Ryf and Liz Blatchford - got the most explosive results from their champagne.

Jan Frodeno became the 5th German man to win Kona with his well-balanced 2nd-best pro 50:50 swim, 5th-fastest pro 4:27:27 bike split and 5th-best pro 2:52:21 marathon.

Frodeno could be proud at becoming the first person to win an Olympic gold (2008) and a Kona victory.

Andreas Raelert cheers the crowd, his fellow competitors after his magnificent 2nd place finish.

Frodeno was joined at the finish by his wife Emma - a fellow triathlon gold medal winner at the 2008 Olympics.

Timothy O'Donnell led part of the bike leg and pushed within 1:05 of Frodeno on the run before Andreas Raelert passed him in the homestretch. O'Donnell's Hawaii-best 3rd-place podium finish was reason to celebrate.

O'Donnell's wife, 3-time Kona champion Mirinda Carfrae, could not finish due to back problems, but was thrilled with Tim's best-ever Kona finish.

The men's podium celebration featured close quarters champagne combat.

Tyler Butterfield of Bermuda topped his 7th-place finish of 2013 with a 5th place finish this year - just 1:44 behind Andy Potts.

Canadian Brent McMahon could be proud of his 9th place finish, just 30 seconds behind defending champion Sebastian Kienle.

Heather Jackson of Bend, Oregon was thrilled with her Kona debut 5th-place finish.

Boris Stein of Germany exulted in his 10th place finish.

Cyril Viennot of France seems to offer a prayer of thanks at his 6th-place finish, just a year after his 5th place Kona performance.

Susie Cheetham of Great Britain takes quiet satisfaction in her 6th place finish capped off by her women's 4th-best 3:06:55 marathon.

Tim Don of Great Britain surely hoped for a better than 15th-place finish, but the Kona finish line is reason enough to smile.

Jordan Rapp basked in the warmth of the Kona finish line crowd.

Twenty-first place finisher Jordan Rapp embraced his good friend Andi Bocherer, the 20th place finisher, after a day in the hot Kona sun.