10 Takeaways from Yesterday’s IRONMAN World Championship Kona
We’ve all been raving about how it was a day for the ages. The pros put on an incredible show, but it wasn’t all about the pros here on the Big Island yesterday. Here are a few things that stood out from yesterday’s racing on both the pro and age-group front.
Norwegians Like This Debut Thing
Solveig Lovseth joined some elite Norwegian company with her win yesterday – all three of the Norwegian men who have won the IRONMAN World Championship did it in their first appearance at the event. Kristian Blummenfelt won in St. George in May of 2022, Gustav Iden won here in Kona in 2022, while Casper Stornes took the 2025 title in Nice – all in their first IRONMAN World Championship appearances. Now Lovseth has joined that elite group.
Natalie Grabow Becomes the Oldest Women’s Kona Finisher
I purposely didn’t want to interview Natalie Grabow before the race in case I jinxed her (the last time I interviewed a potential new record holder she didn’t make it across the line), but I sure want to acknowledge the amazing performance by the 80-year-old. Grabow finished the race in 16:45:26. Since the day couldn’t have enough drama, Grabow fell as she neared the finish line, but got up and made it through.
At the line to greet her was recent IRONMAN Hall of Fame inductee Cherie Gruenfeld, who had been the oldest Kona finisher until Grabow’s amazing feat.
How Close Was That?
Anyone else notice how close the times were between seventh and 10th place yesterday? Just 47 seconds separated Jocelyn McCauley from Marlene de Boer, with Sara Svensk and Leonie Konczalla slotting in between those two.
Biggest Mover
Photo: Kevin Mackinnon
Here’s what’s even crazier about Sara Svensk’s result – she was 52nd out of the water, and worked her way up through the field, running a 2:56:29 marathon to come oh-so-close to a seventh-place finish. As you can see from the above shot, she had to give it all to get to the line in eighth!
Speaking of Close: What About First and Second?
Turns out the time differential between Solveig Lovseth and Kat Matthews – 35 seconds – was one of the closest races we’ve ever seen here in Kona (or any of the other venues). As far as I can tell it’s the third closest race for the win in IRONMAN World Championship history.
Here are the closest finishes:
- Kathleen McCartney and Julie Moss – February, 1982: 29 seconds
- Dave Scott and Scott Tinley, 1983: 33 seconds
- Solveig Lovseth and Kat Matthews, 2025: 35 seconds
- Mark Allen and Dave Scott, 1989: 58 seconds
- Leanda Cave and Caroline Steffen, 2012: 64 seconds
- Normann Stadler and Chris McCormack, 2006: 71 seconds
And, for good measure, just 16 seconds separated Lionel Sanders and Braden Currie in the race for second at the 2022 IRONMAN World Championship in St. George. (Officially it was the 2021 championship.)
Kat Matthews Forces People to Be at Their Best
Photo: Kevin Mackinnon
Think about this – Kat Matthews has finished second at the IRONMAN World Championship three times. The first time was to Daniela Ryf, one of the greatest athletes our sport has ever seen, who took her full-distance IRONMAN world title in dramatic style in St. George. Ryf’s legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats could only be confirmed if someone “kept her honest” out on the course, which Matthews did. She also finished ahead of 2019 IRONMAN World Champion Anne Haug.
Last year Matthews and Laura Philipp put on an incredible show for us all in Nice, with the two running side by side for the first lap of the run before the German took off.
This year Matthews pushed Philipp to the limit in Hamburg, which ended with the German running a 2:38 marathon and setting the fastest time ever at an IRONMAN race (8:03:13).
Here in Kona yesterday I would argue we saw another example of the Matthews effect. In this case it was probably more of a “Matthews/ Philipp” effect – Taylor Knibb and Lucy Charles-Barclay were out in front pushing to their limits because of the concerns of just how much time the two might gain on them in the run. Yes, I get that on race day Solveig Lovseth ended up being the woman who was closest to the pair off the bike and into the run, but before the race, when it came to planning a race stategy, I would think that the ever-consistent Matthews and what she’s capable of on the run would have engendered much more consideration than the unknown potential of the Norwegian in her first Kona experience.
Moms Really Can Be Pros and Race at the Highest Level
Holly Lawrence gets to greet the family after her sixth-place finish. Photos: Kevin Mackinnon
Jocelyn McCauley and her family were thrilled with her seventh-place effort. Photos: Kevin Mackinnon
Denmark’s Katrine Græsbøll Christensen is greeted by her husband and daughter at the finish line – she finished 11th.
Three moms in the top 11 is impressive enough. Yesterday’s race even featured a nursing station. While these super-moms are certainly overcoming some very specific challenges in order to compete at the highest levels, things like IRONMAN’s Pregnancy and Parenthood policies, along with the PTO’s Maternity Leave Policy are making the process of being a pro triathlete and a mom at least a little bit easier.
Speaking of Moms
Photo: Kevin Mackinnon
My buddies at Tri-Mag.de broke the news yesterday morning that Germany’s Anne Reischmann, who won IRONMAN South Africa earlier this year, is 13-weeks pregnant. As she came across the finish line in 31st, IRONMAN CEO Scott DeRue presented her with a onesie.
Olympic Gold Medalist Wins Age Group
The winner of the first women’s Olympic triathlon, Switzerland’s Brigitte McMahon won the women’s 55-59 age group in a time of 10:40:21. The woman she beat at the Sydney Games (in a dramatic sprint finish), 2006 IRONMAN world champ Michellie Jones, was busy around Kailua-Kona all week. We also got to see 2016 gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen a few times.
Speaking of Age Group Winners
The overall age-group champion was Alaska’s Samantha Skold, who won the women’s 30-34 age group in 9:34:59.
Here’s a list of all the age category champions from yesterday’s race:
| Division | First Name | City, State, Country | Country Representing | Time |
| W18-24 | Hannah Rossler | Vienna, Austria | Austria | 9:56:04 |
| W25-29 | Lou Prigent | Versailles, France | France | 9:43:16 |
| W30-34 | Samantha Skold | Anchorage, Alaska, USA | USA | 9:34:59 |
| W35-39 | Joanna Soltysiak-Vrebac | Koło, Poland | Poland | 9:45:57 |
| W40-44 | Christina Paulus | Hamelin, Germany | Germany | 9:57:09 |
| W45-49 | Jana Richtrova | Spring, Texas, USA | Czech Republic | 10:03:31 |
| W50-54 | Sharon Schmidt-Mongrain | Lafayette Hill, Penn., USA | USA | 10:06:55 |
| W55-59 | Brigitte McMahon | Baar, Switzerland, USA | Switzerland | 10:40:21 |
| W60-64 | Caroline Anderson | Claremont, Australia | Australia | 11:36:12 |
| W65-69 | Sharon McDowell-Larsen | Grand Junction, Colo., USA | Canada | 12:30:37 |
| W70-74 | Michele Allison | Wellington, New Zealand | New Zealand | 13:24:27 |
| W75-79 | Sunny McKee | San Fransico, Calif., USA | USA | 15:51:50 |
| W80-84 | Natalie Grabow | Mountain Lakes, N.J., USA | USA | 16:45:26 |
Tags:
IRONMANironman world championship 2025IRONMAN World Championship KonaKona 2025Notable Replies
Continue the discussion at forum.slowtwitch.com
Participants
Jana Richtrova 5X World Champion
@Ironmandad thanks for the coverage. I think the preference is that if Brigitte is mentioned as an Olympic gold medalist, it is also mentioned that she was popped for EPO usage. Everyone is entitled to a second chance after that, but not mentioning it is unfair to those she beat (Michellie…who by the way won 55-59 at Taupo 70.3 Worlds).
Also thanks for reminding us how close Stadler vs Macca 2006 ended up being. LIke Knibb and Charles Barclay, Stadler had a 13 minute lead. He paced his way to a 2:55…just enough to beat Macca who ran a 2:42 but was unable to close the gap. But Stadler did not have someone like Faris beside him to have to beat down so he was able to have patience. I lament that the women leaders this year did not just work with each other like Mark and Dave (to a degree did). No one tried to break the other guy early. They seemingly called a detent until late in the game when Mark put the hammer down.
@devashish_paul Just so things are clear, Brigitte McMahon didn’t test positive until 2005, so her Olympic results (gold in Sydney and 10th in Athens) still stand. She did retire after the positive test, though. I am not sure when she returned to the sport as an age-grouper - be an interesting follow, for sure.
You mean she didnt get caught until then. Do we all believe she got caught right after her first time doping? Smell test people, she just got lucky or was smart about it beforehand…
@monty I just have to go by what the facts are, I’m afraid. In a story I can’t accuse her of doping without proof. When she retired she admitted to taking EPO, which she claimed was for medicinal purposes. So, no matter how suspicious it might be, I can’t state that she was definitely doping when she competed at the Olympics, “smell test” or not.
No I get it Kevin, have to stick what is known. My comment was not a critique of what your wrote, just what just about everyone here who reads this and remembers her are thinking. Out loud if you will..You are doing a great job, keep up the good work..
Hey Kevin, while many of us were around following the sport for all those years, maybe for readers if the following is used moving forwarrd, “former 2000 Sydney gold medalist McMahon, subsequently sanctioned for EPO usage in 2005…” would suffice. Then we’re sticking to the known facts.
Winding back to ITU worlds 1999 in Montreal
McMahon was 41st 6 min back in the top 5 Aussie Sweep:
and around 6 months later in Perth at the 2000 ITU worlds, she was then a minute behind Nicole Hackett (and Carol Montgomery) in 8th
So we can all take a leap of faith on what was shaking out keeping in mind that there was no test for EPO prior to 2000 and it was just being launched at the 2000 Olympics
@monty Thanks!
@devashish_paul Hey, I totally see your reasoning for it being suspicious. As I said with Mark, in a story I can’t accuse her of doing drugs in 2000 at the Olympics - there is no proof of it. She’s actually not the “former Sydney gold medalist” - she remains the gold medalist from those Games. (Unless I missed the IOC removing her medal.) Your recounting of the results is spot on, and certainly gives credence to the suspicions that were raised by many after her gold-medal performance.
@Ironmandad yeah, you can’t report suspicion, just facts. My recommendation, in future reporting would be “2000 Olympic Tri Gold medalist Brigitte McMahon, subsequently sanctioned for an EPO positive in 2005”. I think this would be accurate and table the facts and readers can go figure what they want, and I agree everyone deserves a second chance, but during the second chance the typical glorification of being a gold medalist should come with the qualifer of the positive test. She’s no different in that regard to the likes of Marion Jones, and pretty well all the TdF GC top 20 from 2000 who all subsequently tested positive downstream