Germany’s Laura Philipp retained her Ironman European Championship title at Hamburg and came within 7 seconds of matching Chrissie Wellington’s 2011 mark of 8:18:20. Philipp finished in 8:18:20, 18:22 ahead of runner-up Chelsea Sodaro of the United States.
This performance underscored Philipp’s recovery from a COVID infection and injury which forced her to withdraws from her highly anticipated entry to the Ironman World Championship in St. George a month ago.
The 3.8 kilometer swim saw Ironman debutant Chelsea Sodaro of the U.S., Philip, Manon Genet of France, Chantal Sainter of Great Britain exit together between 54:38 and 54:40. The quartet began with a 4-minute lead on Renee Kiley of Australia and Katina Gosvig of Denmark.
In her first Ironman, Chelsea Sodaro of the U.S. arrived in T2 four minutes behind Philipp after a 4:35:09 bike split. With no one else in sight, looked like a duel between the two, with Genet 17 minutes behind starting the run and Chantal Sainter of Great Britain two minutes further back.
Philipp gained further distance with a 1:21 first half, but Sodaro stayed in touch with a 1:24 mark.
After a sizzling fast 2:45:39 marathon. Philipp came within a whisker of Chrissie Wellington’s place in tri-history.
Ironman Europe Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany
June 5, 2022
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.
Women
1. Laura Philipp (GER) S 54:39 T1 3:26 B 4:31:14 T2 3:25 R 2:45:39 TOT 8:18:20
2. Chelsea Sodaro (USA) S 54:38 T1 3:32 B 4:35:09 T2 3:04 R 3:00:21 TOT 8:36:42
3. Manon Genet (DRA) S 54:40 T1 3:40 B 4:47:53 T2 3:07 R 3:02:43 TOT 8:52:02
4. Heini Hartikainan (FIN) S 1:021:15 T1 4:01 B 4:44:35 T2 3:40 R 3:02:02 TOT 8:56:31
5. Chantal Sainter (GBR) S 54:41 T1 3:31 B 4:49:57 T2 3:01 R 3:10:42 TOT 9:01:50
6. Verena Walter (GER) S 1:02:14 T1 4:56 B 4:51:08 T2 3:28 R 3:31:24 TOT 9:33:09
7. Jenny Nae (SWE) S 1:04:26 T1 4:11 B 5:12:15 T2 4:31 R 3:08:50 TOT 9:34:12
8. Janien Luben (NED) S 1:09:50 T1 4:50 B 5:05:45 T2 3:51 R 3:16:57 TOT 9:41:11
9. Karina Gosvig (SUI) S 58:46 T1 4:24 B 5:04:47 T2 4:01 R 3:33:55 TOT 9:45:50
10. Annika Timm (GER) S 1:11:03 T1 3:L59 B 5:04:01 T2 4:09 R 3:58:16 TOT 10:21:26
