Photos from a Wild Day in Kona

Kevin Mackinnon

October 10, 2026

We didn’t think things could get more exciting than they did a year ago, and it’s hard to argue that they didn’t here in Kona today. A few of the photos we captured from out on the course.

^{Surprise … Look who’s leading the swim. Lucy Charles-Barclay surges clear right after the start. Photos: Kevin Mackinnon}

^{Hold it. I don’t want to be in front. Jamie Riddle does some back stroke to check out the rest of the group.}

^{He didn’t need to worry – there was a big group right behind.}

^{Jonas Schomburg led the way past the airport.}

^{Taylor Knibb was second out of the water and quickly closed the gap on Charles-Barclay.}

^{The ominous clouds hung over the Kailua-Kona side of the island for much of the day … Daisy Davies works her way to the sunshine.}

^{Coming down from Hawi, Matthew Marquardt led the way.} ^{(That’s Haleakalā, the mountain on Maui, in the background!)}

^{Magnus Ditlev would eventually power to the front.}

^{Sam Laidlow was the centre of attention for a bit.}

^{Gustav Iden wasn’t taking any time to enjoy the Scenic Point.}

^{Marta Sanchez.}

^{Must be a Norwegian thing – Solveig Løvseth wasn’t checking out the scenery, either.}

^{Ditlev was clearly suffering on the run once he hit the Queen K, stopping for ice every opportunity he had.}

^{The chasers were coming fast …}

^{Vincent Luis and Kristian Blummenfelt appeared to be on track for a race to the line …}

^{But the Frenchman would pull away in the Energy Lab.}

^{Iden would find another gear coming out of the Energy Lab, but it wasn’t quite enough to get him to the win.}

^{Matthew Marquardt hung tough for the final spot on the podium.}

^{The Energy Lab proved too much for Lucy Charles-Barclay again …}

^{Yet another strong run for Kat Matthews.}

^{Lovseth would take the lead … but didn’t look completely in control. She would collapse just short of the finish line.}

^{Taylor Knibb would finally get the win here in Kona …}

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