Sports · Running & Athletics · 8 hrs ago
Taylor Knibb wins Ironman world title after rival collapses near finish
American triathlete Taylor Knibb won her first Ironman world title in Kona, Hawaii.
The race combines a 3.8km swim, a 180km cycle and a 42.2km run.
Norway’s Solveig Løvseth, the defending champion, had moved ahead late in the run and led Knibb by more than a minute.
With about a mile left, Løvseth collapsed, and Knibb passed her roughly a kilometre from the finish.
Løvseth recovered and finished eighth, while Germany’s Laura Philipp placed second, three minutes behind Knibb.
Knibb had pulled out near the finish while leading the previous year, and she said that experience helped her stay composed when Løvseth passed her.
France’s Vincent Luis won the men’s race on his Kona debut and said he would reconsider his plan to retire after the event.
Taylor Knibb won her first Hawaiian Ironman world title in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
She passed defending champion Solveig Løvseth about a kilometre from the finish after Løvseth collapsed.
Knibb completed the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run in eight hours, 36 minutes and 29 seconds.
Germany’s Laura Philipp finished second, three minutes behind Knibb, while Løvseth finished eighth.
France’s Vincent Luis won the men’s race on his debut at Kona.
- Who
- American triathlete Taylor Knibb won the women’s title.
- What
- Knibb won the Ironman world championship after defending champion Solveig Løvseth collapsed near the finish.
- When
- The race took place on Saturday in Hawaii; the Guardian described it as Sunday AEST.
- Where
- Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Last year played a huge part because ... I made a big decision and it was just, ‘take care of yourself’, because it was getting really hard
Then when Solveig came back, I thought I can’t fight because if I fight, I’m going to lose, so I had to learn from last year to just get to the finish line, get to the finish line, get to the finish line
I said if I win, I will maybe not continue, but I went through some dark places in the last 3-4km – but 100% worth it
Let’s see, I have a few nights out to decide what to do with my life now
Solveig Løvseth took the lead from Taylor Knibb.
Løvseth collapsed, and Knibb passed her.
Knibb won the women’s title in eight hours, 36 minutes and 29 seconds.
Vincent Luis won the men’s race in 7hr 47min 27sec.
- Women’s winner
- Taylor Knibb
- Winning time
- 8 hours, 36 minutes and 29 seconds
- Women’s runner-up
- Laura Philipp, three minutes behind Knibb
- Løvseth’s finish
- Eighth place
- Men’s winner
- Vincent Luis, 7hr 47min 27sec
Sources
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