In Sweltering Conditions, Norway’s Solveig Løvseth Takes 2025 Ironman World Championship Win
On a day that saw soaring temperatures and unexpected withdrawals in the podium positions, Solveig Løvseth proved best in her first try at the Ironman World Championship.
Solveig Lovseth wins the 2025 Ironman World Championship title in Kona with a time of 8:28:27. (Photo: Brad Kaminski/Triathlete)
Updated October 11, 2025 08:02PM
Norway’s Solveig Løvseth has won the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii with a time of 8:28:27. The 26-year-old former short-course specialist used a measured and balanced attack to move up throughout a sweltering day, despite this being her third-ever iron-distance event and first-ever Ironman World Championship attempt.
Løvseth began the day with a 55:40 swim that had her exit the water in 14th place. Despite her lack of familiarity racing the distance, she patiently pushed her way through the field, breaking away from the large chase group around 45 miles into the bike in hopes of bridging up to the cyclists at the very front.
2025 Ironman World Champion Solveig Løvseth rode from 14th place out of the water to third place into T2 off the bike. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
Løvseth would ride her way into third place by the end of the bike, off the back of the second-fastest bike split of the day (4:31:53).
In front of Løvseth on the run, then-race leader Lucy Charles-Barclay would eventually succumb to the heat, withdrawing around mile 17 and requiring medical attention.
Only seven miles later, as Løvseth continued with her impeccable pacing, the new race leader, American Taylor Knibb would stop with only two miles to go, eventually being taken away in an ambulance, and the Norwegian would make the pass for first.
Solveig Løvseth on the run at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Kona. (Photo: Brad Kaminski/Triathlete)
As temperatures approached 90 degrees F in Kailua-Kona, Løvseth never faltered, moving with confidence all the way to breaking the tape on Ali’i Drive with a 2:55:47 run, joining other recent Ironman World Championship rookie winners like Chrissie Wellington (GBR) and Chelsea Sodaro (USA).
Not far behind Løvseth, Great Britain’s Kat Matthews used a course run record (2:47:23) to close the gap throughout the final miles, but achingly fell 35 seconds short of the top podium step with a time of 8:29:02.
This would be Matthews’ first finish at the Hawaii Ironman World Championship after DNF’ing in 2023 and being unable to start in 2022 after a driver struck her with a truck during a pre-Kona training camp.
Rounding out the podium, 2024 Ironman World Championship Laura Philipp (DEU) finished in third with a time of 8:37:28.
The 2025 Ironman World Championship podium (L to R): third place Laura Philipp (DEU), winner Solveig Løvseth (NOR), and runner-up Kat Matthews (GBR). (Photo: Travis Mundell)
Solveig Løvseth reacts to 2025 Ironman World Championship win
“It’s still hard for me to wrap my head around it,” Løvseth said in the moments following her win.
“I didn’t really have my best swim, but I kept my calm, and on the bike I felt really good,” she recalled. “I was just taking a turn in the group, and then I looked back, and I realized I wasn’t with the group anymore. I’m all alone now, so I might try to go with it.”
“The run was really so hard from the start but I didn’t think I was going to get to the finish,” Løvseth said. “But I started to feel better around halfway.”
“I’m really sorry for Taylor and Lucy,” Løvseth added, in regards to Lucy Charles-Barclay and Taylor Knibb faltering in the late stages of the race. “It’s not the way I wanted to pass either of them. I really hope they’re ok.
“When I passed Taylor, I was thinking, ‘I actually have a chance.’”
2025 Ironman World Championship Kona results
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Live updates from the women’s 2025 Ironman World Championship in Kona
2:55 p.m. – Solveig Løvseth wins the 2025 Ironman World Championship
Clearly, it’s a year for the Norwegians at the Ironman World Championship – just one month after an all-Norwegian podium at the men’s race in Nice, France, Solveig Løvseth has taken the women’s title in Kona.
Solveig Løvseth wins the 2025 Ironman World Championship title in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. (Photo: Brad Kaminski/Triathlete)
2:41 p.m. – Taylor Knibb runs out of gas
With just two miles to go, Taylor Knibb has run out of gas. The American has collapsed on the pavement and was passed by Norwegian Solveig Løvseth, who is currently surging to the finish. Knibb was later taken from the course by an ambulance.
It’s a shocking development in what has been a rollercoaster run in Kona.
2:12 p.m. – Taylor Knibb makes her way back to town
With five miles to go, Taylor Knibb is still in the lead at the 2025 Ironman World Championship. After Lucy Charles-Barclay’s departure, Knibb seems to appreciate the breathing room, slowing her pace slightly and taking the time to walk an aid station.
That doesn’t mean she can fully relax, however – second-place Solveig Løvseth has found another gear, and she’s now 3:23 down from the lead. But even she is showing signs of fatigue, a testament to just how brutal today’s conditions are.
1:51 p.m. – Lucy Charles-Barclay withdraws from the 2025 Ironman World Championship
The struggle is over for the 2023 Ironman world champion. Upon spotting her husband, Reece, just outside the Energy Lab, Charles-Barclay called it quits. The two embraced on the side of the road before Charles-Barclay entered a medical wagon for treatment.
This means Solveig Løvseth is now in second place, 4:44 down from race leader Taylor Knibb; Kat Matthews completes the new podium 9:29 behind in third.
1:26 p.m. – A Charles-Barclay blow-up
Lucy Charles-Barclay pouring ice and water on her head as she struggles through the run at the 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
It’s hard to watch anyone stagger through the aid stations on the run course in Kona, but it’s particularly rough to witness a former world champion who typically sees strong performances on this course. Lucy Charles-Barclay has slowed significantly, and is taking all the ice and water she can put on and in her body. In just one mile, she’s fallen 1:14 behind Knibb, who is faring significantly better (for now – if there’s one thing we know about Kona, it’s that anything can happen in these final 13 miles).
Could this be the opportunity Løvseth has been waiting for? The Norwegian has practiced smart pacing and is currently 4:45 down from the lead (and 3:30 behind Charles-Barclay). Kat Matthews is also making major moves, averaging 6:23 min/miles and looking the strongest of just about everyone in the field.
1:18 p.m. – Charles-Barclay is struggling in the heat
Though she had lead through some of the early miles of the run, Lucy Charles-Barclay showed signs of struggle near the halfway mark. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
As we approach the halfway point, we’re seeing signs of Lucy Charles-Barclay starting to crack. Walking through the aid station – as she did at the 12-mile marker – provided an opportunity for Taylor Knibb to strike.
The two women ran side by side for a few minutes before Charles-Barclay finally slowed, walked, wobbled slightly, then resumed running, but not for long.
Taylor Knibb passes a fading Lucy-Charles Barclay to retake the lead again at the 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
Meanwhile, Knibb seems to have drawn energy from this catch-up. Overhead, the helicopters are flying, which must be extremely exciting for the American, who said at the pre-race press conference she would be chasing helicopters all day: “Whenever there’s a helicopter, Normann Stadler had a line that he likes to chase the helicopter, because that’s the front of the race in Kona. That’s what our family says every single time there’s a helicopter.”
12:41 p.m. – Lucy Charles-Barclay re-takes the lead
Right around mile 7, Lucy Charles-Barclay has re-passed Taylor Knibb for the first time since serving an unintentional littering penalty near mile 80 on the bike, offering a pat on Knibb’s back before pulling away.
It’s the same move we saw Gustav Iden make when he passed Sam Laidlow en route to his 2022 win in Kona. Sportsmanship: we love to see it.
Meanwhile, Solveig Løvseth is finally doing what she couldn’t on the bike: put significant time into the gap to the front. The Norwegian is currently averaging a 6:35 min/mi pace, which has reduced her deficit from 5:47 at the start of the run to 4:49 at mile 7.
Behind, Kat Matthews and Laura Philipp spent the first few running side-by-side, 12 minutes down, before Matthews began to slightly pull away. Matthew is now in fourth place, 12:08 down from the lead and on pace for the run course record, while Philipp is holding on in fifth, 12:35 down.
12:34 p.m. – Knibb soaks up the energy in town
Taylor Knibb leads the women’s race early on the run at the 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
Race leader Taylor Knibb is making her way back down Ali’i Drive for one last connection with the crowds before venturing into the desolation of the Queen K and Energy Lab.
Despite its name, the Natural Energy Lab segment of the marathon does little to provide strength to athletes. That’s why so many athletes like to soak up this last stretch in town – once they exit, it’s a long, hard, lonely run.
Lucy Charles-Barclay in second place on the run at the 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
Perhaps she’ll have company, though. At mile 5, Lucy Charles-Barclay has Knibb in her sights, only 30 seconds away. Will we see a pass? A hammer drop? An Iron War? We’ve still got 20 miles of exciting racing ahead.
12:26 p.m. – Trying to beat the heat
In a race like this, it’s critical to stay calm, cool, and collected. Today, that strategy requires ice – and lots of it. Our spotters are seeing the pros putting lots of ice in lots of places – held in the hands, dumped down the sports bras, stuffed in every pocket of the tri suit. Our spotters witness Lucy Charles-Barclay make a stop at an aid station at mile six, where she asked volunteers to pour water and ice on her as she adjusted her shoes (likely because her feet are swelling in the extreme heat of the day).
This cooling strategy is backed by science (and our own medical expert, Dr. Jeffrey Sankoff) – every little drop in temperature counts in such intense heat and humidity.
11:50 a.m. – Taylor Knibb first to enter T2 at 2025 Ironman World Championship
After a thrilling pass over Lucy Charles-Barclay at the halfway point of the bike, Taylor Knibb has maintained her lead, entering T2 with a bike split of 4:31:00 – three minutes faster than when she raced here in 2023. Now she heads out on the run, where she must fend off a hard-charging Lucy Charles-Barclay, 1:26 behind after serving a one-minute penalty, and Solveig Løvseth, 5:44 down.
The marathon in the Kona heat is challenging – it’s usually where prior experience of racing in Hawaii pays off the most, so Charles-Barclay has the distinct advantage here.
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews, in fourth and fifth place, respectively, are also well-positioned heading out onto the run. Certainly, no one wants to be in a double-digit deficit to the front, but both are strong runners who could bridge that gap, especially if the trio currently in front is burning their matches. Philipp has consistently clocked marathon splits in the 2:38 to 2:45 range recently, and Matthews’ last two Ironman marathons were 2:40:58 and 2:49:19.
With only 19 seconds separating fourth through eighth place, we’ll likely see some jockeying for position as the run plays out. There are some wild cards as we head into the run – namely, Holly Lawrence, currently in 10th place in her Kona debut. The 2016 70.3 world champion clocked a 3:02:54 marathon at Lake Placid this year – what kind of performance can we expect on the Big Island?
Ironman World Championship Kona 2025: Bike Splits
11:34 a.m. – Matthews makes a move
We’re starting to see a bit of strategy from Kat Matthews, who has sat on the wheel of Laura Philipp for much of the second half of the bike leg. Content to let Philipp lead the chase pack in the intense headwinds heading into town, Matthews has now made the pass on Philipp with less than 10 miles to go. It’s reminiscent of last year’s race, where Matthews and Philipp played leapfrog at the front of the race and duked it out side-by-side for seven miles before Philipp ultimately took the lead and the win.
We expect to see a pack of eight, led by Matthews and Philipp, along with Lisa Perterer, Hannah Berry, Jocelyn McCauley, Reagan Hollioake, Holly Lawrence, and Marta Sanchez – enter T2 together. Who will have the strongest run – and will it be enough to catch Knibb, Charles-Barclay, or Løvseth?
11:10 a.m. – India Lee drops eight spots after flat tire
India Lee, who was originally leading the chase pack behind Taylor Knibb, Lucy Charles-Barclay, and Solveig Løvseth, has fallen from fourth to 12th place after a flat tire. Now repaired, Lee has lost touch with that pack and is riding solo, nearly 90 seconds down from her pack and 15 minutes down from the lead. Will she be able to bridge back up, or will the deficit prove too much in the final 20 miles of the bike?
10:58 a.m. – It’s heating up on the Big Island
Temperatures in Kona, Hawaii, are creeping up above 80 degrees F as the women race the 2025 Ironman World Championship.
Someone turned up the thermostat out there – currently, it’s 82 degrees F, 72% humidity, and full sun. If that sounds sweltering, that’s because it is. To avoid a major meltdown on the run (a common Kona occurrence) athletes need to be smart about pacing, nutrition, and hydration in these final miles of the bike.
But “smart” is relative here – current race leader Taylor Knibb is currently on pace to potentially match or break the bike course record of 4:26:07, set by Daniela Ryf in 2018. Solveig Løvseth’s average pace is on par with Knibb and Lucy Charles-Barclay out front – the three are averaging just a hair over 25 MPH. To us mere mortals, that may seem like a mind-blowing speed to sustain over a 112-mile bike leg, but all three athletes are strong cyclists who have shown they can back up this speed with a solid marathon.
It’s no guarantee, however, especially in these conditions. Remember, of the three athletes leading the front, only one (Charles-Barclay) has won the Ironman World Championship, and it took four consecutive second-place finishes to finally crack the Kona code.
10:27 a.m. – A penalty for Lucy Charles-Barclay
We’ve just received word that Lucy Charles-Barclay has received a yellow card penalty from the referees for dropping trash outside the designated littering zones. At the next penalty tent, she’ll have to stand down for one minute – a major blow to her neck-and-neck race with Taylor Knibb.
Littering penalties are one of the most common in triathlon – for pros and age-groupers alike. Read more about the most common race violations here.
10:05 a.m. – Taylor Knibb takes the lead
Taylor Knibb makes the pass on Lucy Charles-Barclay at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Kona. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
In 2023, Lucy Charles-Barclay was unmatched in her gun-to-tape victory. Taylor Knibb is clearly determined to not let that happen again, as evidenced by her unflinching pass at mile 67. Will Knibb try to put as much space on Charles-Barclay, or save her energy for the run?
Charles-Barclay’s last three marathons have clocked in at 3:01:58, 2:49:54, and 2:57:38; Knibb, on the other hand, has clocked 3:04:4 and 3:05:13 in her only two attempts at the iron-distance.
9:57 a.m. – How are the pre-race favorites doing in Kona?
Solveig Løvseth riding in third place in her debut at the 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
The halfway point of the race is a good time to take a pulse check on pre-race favorites:
- Lucy Charles-Barclay: Currently leading the race, averaging 24.44 MPH
- Taylor Knibb: In second place, two seconds down – pushing a slightly higher average pace than Charles-Barclay at 24.70 MPH
- Solveig Løvseth: In third place, 7:08 down; riding solo
- Laura Philipp: In sixth place, 9:31 down, pulling a pack containing Laura Philipp, Lisa Perterer, Jocelyn McCauley, and Kat Matthews, among others
- Kat Matthews: In 10th pace, riding in a pack 9:40 down
- Chelsea Sodaro: DNF at mile 49
- Lisa Perterer: In seventh place, riding in a pack 9:33 down
Other notables include Holly Lawrence, who is currently in fourth place in her second-ever Ironman and Kona debut, one year after giving birth to her daughter Poppy; India Lee, who has ridden her way from 11th out of the water to fifth on the bike; and Jackie Hering, who has ridden from 25th place to 18th.
Just one year after giving birth, Holly Lawrence sits in fourth place at her first Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
As athletes descend from the town of Hawi and make the 56-mile sojourn back to town, crosswinds have begun to pick up and blow the athletes around – a not-so-subtle reminder that the island is as much a character in this race as the athletes competing.
9:44 a.m. – We have ourselves a two-horse race
Lucy Charles-Barclay leading the 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
At the halfway point of the bike, Taylor Knibb has bridged the gap to Lucy Charles-Barclay. The turnaround point gave Charles-Barclay an opportunity to see with her own eyes how the race was playing out behind her – was she surprised Knibb was only two seconds down, or did she expect that from the cycling phenom?
Taylor Knibb riding in second place at the 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
Regardless, a game of cat-and-mouse is afoot on the descent from Hawi. Pop the popcorn, folks: this is where the race starts to get really interesting.
9:42 a.m. – Race Ranger is watching
Unlike Solveig Løvseth, who surged ahead to chase down Taylor Knibb and Lucy Charles-Barclay, Laura Philipp, Lisa Perterer, and Kat Matthews are biding their time in the pack containing Lotte Wilms, Hannah Berry, Julie Iemmolo, Reagan Hollioake, and Steph Clutterbuck 8:42 down from the front. Only 13 seconds separate those eight athletes, meaning a drafting penalty is a very real possibility if athletes aren’t careful.
It’s likely those athletes are using the Race Ranger – a device on each pro bike used to judge the distance between wheels and flag drafting violations – to ride exactly on the line of legality in such close conditions. The technology was adopted by Ironman in 2024 and has quickly become a boon for not only fair racing, but strategy in the pro field.
9:26 a.m. – Cheslea Sodaro drops from the 2025 Ironman World Championship
Chelsea Sodaro, 2022 Ironman World Champion, has withdrawn from the race at the 49-mile mark. After exiting the water in eighth place, Sodaro seemed to struggle on the bike, falling to 28th before taking the DNF. Details are not available at this time, but we’ll share updates as they come and in our post-race DNF files early next week.
9:14 a.m. – Kona rookie Solveig Løvseth takes a page out of the Norwegian playbook
Typically, when we talk about “the Norwegians” in Ironman racing, we’re talking about Ironman world champions Kristian Blummenfelt, Gustav Iden, and Casper Stornes. But if we need to round out the Mount Rushmore of Norwegian triathlon, might we nominate Solveig Løvseth?
Løvseth has ridden her way from 17th out of the swim to in third place, 6:40 down from Lucy Charles-Barclay and 2:21 behind Taylor Knibb at mile 42 and has broken from her group.
She’s a Kona rookie racing in only her third-ever Ironman. But make no mistakes: She’s got chops. Her first Ironman in Hamburg was the fastest-ever debut by a woman (8:12:28), and she followed it up with a win at Lake Placid in 8:43:29.
Earlier this year, Triathlete contributor Jordan Blanco sat down with Løvseth to talk about her journey from Olympic disappointment to Ironman dominance. One of the things she likes the most about the transition to long-course racing is the measured strategy of the distance:
“I like the idea that Ironman is a long day, and you don’t have to panic,” she explains. “But I’m also learning when to be patient and when to be aggressive.”
Clearly, she’s in aggressive mode, averaging a 25.44 mph pace on the way out to Hawi. Want to get a closer look at her custom-detailed Felt IA 2.0? Check out our gallery and interview with the young Norwegian.
9:02 a.m. – Taylor Knibb v. the bottle
As today’s race heads through the lava fields approaching the climb to Hawi, there’s surprisingly very little wind. Typically, headwinds and crosswinds are standard on this long, rolling segment and climb out to the bike turnaround.
The climb out to Hawi may be an advantage for Knibb, who is one of the strongest cyclists in the field. The two-time Olympic silver medalist also qualified for the Games in the cycling time trial and road race (though she didn’t race the road race). Knibb might be best-suited to maximize the climb – even if she doesn’t pull away, it’ll likely hurt her less, given her cycling strength.
But in order to do that, she’ll have to take in plenty of nutrition – in 2023, which was both her Ironman and Kona debut, Knibb lost her bottles containing 60% of her race nutrition. Though she still finished fourth in 8:35:56, the dropped bottles continue to sting to this day. When asked about her biggest lesson learned from 2023, Knibb responded: “Well, number one, don’t lose 60% of your nutrition on the bike.”
That’s why we can’t help but wince just now, seeing Knibb miss a bottle grab as she rode through an aid station. Here’s hoping for better luck at the next one (and for those wondering how to nail the bottle grab, check out our illustrated guide to racing a triathlon).
8:39 a.m. – Big moves from Lisa Perterer, Kat Matthews, Laura Philipp, and Solveig Løvseth
Lisa Perterer, Kat Matthews, Solveig Løvseth, and Laura Philipp have made their way to the front pack of athletes from the swim on the bike. Will they ride through this group to try to catch Knibb and Charles-Barclay, or sit in the pack and bide their time? It’s an especially bold move for Perterer and Løvseth, who are racing their first-ever Ironman world championships today.
Matthews , however, knows world championship racing well, having finished second twice (Nice 2023 and St. George, 2022). But her only attempt as a pro on this particular Kona course, in 2023, ended with a DNF. She’s taken the lessons from all of those experiences, as well as those gleaned from her 2024 Ironman Pro Series win, and applied them to her preparations for this year’s race. The biggest lesson: race less to win more – a complete flip of her 2024 approach.
“I put together a training block, which was pretty novel, weirdly quite hard,” she said of her new, Kona-focused approach for this year. “I feel really quite happy about that. I realize I’m not sure if I am actually a racer. I like training. I like getting better every day, and the racing is a sort of cherry, like a real test. But I think I actually get more empowered by the daily grind.”
8:23 a.m. – Lucy Charles-Barclay is pushing the pace
Twenty-five miles into the bike course, Lucy Charles-Barclay continues to charge on her tricked-out Cube Aerium C:68X. She has extended her lead to 1:47 on Taylor Knibb in second place, and nearly four-and-a-half minutes on Marta Sanchez and Holly Lawrence in third and fourth, respectively.
In a pre-race press conference, Charles-Barclay described this season as “the healthiest year of my entire career.” A diagnosis of celiac disease helped her dial in her nutrition, and she has avoided the stress fractures that plagued her in years past.
“Every other year of my career, I had to have weeks off running, and this is the first year I haven’t missed one week of running,” she said. “So I definitely feel really happy, really healthy.”
Though Charles-Barclay has only raced one full Ironman this year (Lanzarote, where she finished in 9:17:15), her results at the middle distance have reflected her health: a pair of wins at T100s in Spain and London, third at Singapore T100, and fourth at Vancouver T100. She also picked up a win at 70.3 Eagleman.
8:06 a.m. – Town is pumping!
Fans pose in Kona, Hawaii, for the 2025 Ironman World Championship.
As the pro bike packs are taking shape up front, age-group athletes, their supporters, and fans are spread out along the course. The encouragement at the final women’s-only Ironman World Championship is palpable.
Age-group triathletes head out onto the 2025 Ironman World Championship bike course. (Photo: Travis Mundell)
Even though the early morning hours brought sprinkles and rain showers, the clouds are beginning to lift and casting a glow on the crowd in Kona.
Costumes help bring the energy at the 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Travis Mundell)
7:36 a.m. – Taylor Knibb is not messing around
After exiting the water in fourth place, 1:33 down from Lucy Charles-Barclay, Taylor Knibb is taking charge on the bike (check out her new Trek here). She has not only pedaled her way into second place in the first six miles, but has broken away from the rest of the chase pack, which has fallen 30 seconds behind Knibb. Though Knibb hasn’t put too much time into Charles-Barclay’s 1:29 gap, that could very well change quickly.
Knibb is one of the only pros who did not opt for a full aero helmet. In our pre-race roundup of the gear the pros are using in the race, there was a definite trend of aero helmets; Knibb, however, seems to have opted for something more vented – understandable, given the brutal heat of the course. Notably, her bike sponsor, Trek, does not make a traditional, long-tail aero helmet.
Also making moves on the bike right now: Kat Matthews, who has already made up seven places and currently sits in 19th, 6:51 down from Charles-Barclay.
7:14 a.m. – Lucy Charles-Barclay first out of the water
Lucy Charles-Barclay is first out of the water with a 49:29 swim split at the women’s 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Brad Kaminski/Triathlete)
It’s out of the water and into the fire for Lucy Charles-Barclay, who clocked a 49:29 split.
1:29 behind was Haley Chura, leading a pack of eight that included (in order) Holly Lawrence, Taylor Knibb, Rebecca Clarke, Marta Sanchez, Lotte Wilms, and Chelsea Sodaro.
Taylor Knibb blazes into T1 after the swim leg of the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Kona. (Photo: Chris Foster/Triathlete)
Slightly further back: Steph Clutterbuck, Julie Iemmolo, and India Lee.
The cyclist pack – Solveig Løvseth, Jocelyn McCauley, Lisa Perterer, Kat Matthws, Marjolaine Pierre, Jackie Hering, and Laura Philipp – all exited the water about six minutes down from Charles-Barclay.
Ironman World Championship Kona 2025: Swim Splits
7:08 a.m. – Swim strategy at play
Taylor Knibb is making smart choices in the chase pack during the final push to the pier, just under two minutes down from Lucy Charles-Barclay. She’s positioned herself on the feet of Haley Chura and Holly Lawrence – both super-strong swimmers who can pull her back to shore with minimal effort.
Chelsea Sodaro is in that same chase pack, surrounded by Julie Iemmolo, Lotte Wilms, and India Lee.
Kat Matthews, Laura Philipp, Solveig Løvseth, and Lisa Perterer follow in the third pack, about five minutes down – they’re all strong cyclists who can bridge most gaps. But remember: Charles-Barclay is a strong cyclist, too, as evidenced by her 2023 victory.
Speaking of Charles-Barclay, she seems to have found another gear in the tail current pushing her toward home with just 400 meters to go.
6:41 a.m. – Swells are building, packs are solidifying
The further from shore the athletes get, the choppier the waves – this is working to Lucy Charles-Barclay’s advantage as she continues to build a gap on her competition. But though she (and all athletes) are fighting the tide on the way out, there will be a nice current after the turnaround. At the moment, Charles-Barclay is on track to break her own swim course record of 48:14.
About 1 minute behind, the first chase pack continues to push the pace in hopes of minimizing Charles-Barclay’s lead. In this group, we spotted Chelsea Sodaro, Taylor Knibb, Julie Iemmelo, Marta Sanchez, Rebecca Clarke, Holly Lawrence, Lotte Wilms, India Lee, and Haley Chura.
Just under two minutes down from Charles-Barclay, a third pack has formed with Lisa Perterer, Laura Philipp, Kat Matthews, and Jocelyn McCauley – all powerhouse cyclists who could work together to bridge the gap to the front after T1.
6:40 a.m. – Day for it
The first wave of age-group athletes start the 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Chris Foster)
Though all eyes will be on the pro race out front today, 1,700 age-groupers will also be on the course, vying for the world title in their respective age groups. Today, 8 countries, regions, and territories are represented on the athlete start list.
The United States has the largest contingent with 482 athletes, followed by Germany (207), Canada (114), Australia (102), and the United Kingdom (99). Other athletes from countries as far as Bolivia, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela have traveled to the Big Island as well.
6:35 a.m. – Lucy Charles-Barclay does Lucy Charles-Barclay things
Lucy Charles-Barclay breaks away from the pack during the swim at the 2025 Ironman World Championship. (Photo: Travis Mundell/Triathlete)
In news that surprises no one: Lucy Charles-Barclay has broken away from the pack. She’s currently about 20 meters ahead of a chase pack of 10 athletes which includes Haley Chura, Taylor Knibb, Marta Sanchez, Holly Lawrence, and Lisa Perterer. Lest you think she’s unaware of what’s playing out behind her: About 1,000 meters in, Charles-Barclay rolled over for a few strokes on her back, where she assessed her position against the rest of the field.
In 2023, Charles-Barclay led from gun to tape – something only one other athlete has done before in the history of the Ironman World Championship (for all you tri trivia buffs, that’s Dave Scott, 1982). Could repeat this year?
6:25 a.m. – And we’re off!
The women’s pro race begins at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Kona. (Photo: Chris Foster/Triathlete)
With the loud blast of a tiny start cannon, the women’s 2025 Ironman World Championship has officially begun!
Lucy Charles-Barclay positioned herself in the middle of the lineup – a smart strategy, given the slightly rolling swells – and immediately went to the front. Taylor Knibb is on her feet, with Holly Lawrence, Haley Chura, and Marta Sanchez completing the tip of the spear-shaped formation behind.
6:09 a.m. – Gray skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face
The swim start line at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Kona (Photo: Abby Levene/Triathlete)
With just minutes to go, the rain has stopped and the sun is rising over Dig Me Beach. Athletes will enter the water for a warm-up shortly, then it’s Go Time.
With the warm water temperatures, the Kona swim is always non-wetsuit, but the salty water creates ample buoyancy even for weaker swimmers. Currently, there’s an incoming tide that athletes will have to work against. Some might struggle with swells and sometimes choppy waves, which often contribute to growing gaps between the groups in the second half of the swim. Read more about how the swim (and race) might play out in this analysis by Trirating expert Thorsten Radde.
5:48 a.m. – A cool-down for Kat
Kat Matthews wears an ice vest ahead of the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Kona. (Photo: Travis Mundell/Triathlete)
It’s no secret that Kona conditions can be brutal and unforgiving. Every little detail counts – and not just during the race. During final gear checks, Kat Matthews donned an ice vest, which has been utilized by athletes in other endurance sports to reduce core body temperature. Though the science on ice vests is mixed, some experts suggest there might be a performance benefit by allowing more blood flow for oxygen delivery to muscles and reducing sweat rate. The cooling effect may also lead to lower heart rates during exercise and improved power output.
4:40 a.m. – The final countdown
The finish line of the women’s Ironman World Championship, 90 minutes before the race begins. (Photo: Susan Lacke/Triathlete)
Ali’i Drive may not look like much now, but just you wait. By the end of the day, this stretch of road will be the loudest place on Earth as triathlon fans welcome home the 2025 Ironman world champion. The countdown clock is ticking, and athletes have begun to trickle into transition.
Currently, it’s 76 degrees F with a light rain that is expected to ease up by 5 a.m. Sunrise is at 6:17 – perfect timing for a 6:25 pro start. From there, today’s forecast calls for a high of 85 degrees F and 60% humidity, with a 20% chance of showers throughout the day.
4:15 a.m. – Swim cap colors assigned
Though it’s easy to spot the pros on the bike (who could miss Lucy Charles-Barclay’s distinctive “mermaid on fire” paint job, or Taylor Knibb’s brightly-colored Trek Speed Concept?), things are a little trickier on the swim. That’s why Ironman assigns distinct swim color caps to specific pros, for ease of spotting as the swim plays out. Ironman has shared with us the cap colors they have assigned for today’s race in the below table:
A reference sheet for swim color caps the pros will wear at the women’s 2025 Ironman World Championship race in Kona. (Photo: Ironman)
3:05 a.m. – The full women’s 2025 Ironman World Championship start list & bib numbers
Today’s race will feature 54 professional women comprising one of the deepest fields in the history of the Ironman World Championship. Highlights include:
In other words: There’s gonna be a lot of speed out there today. Click the button below for the entire start list, plus bib numbers to reference as you watch today’s race livestream.
2:00 a.m. – Who will win the pinnacle triathlon event? Thorsten Radde crunched the numbers
Trirating.com expert Thorsten Radde doesn’t own a crystal ball … at least, we don’t think so. But his stats and deep knowledge of the sport make him eerily good at predicting who will win the biggest races of the year.
If you’re into betting, your money should go on reigning champ Laura Philipp (DEU). Philipp has a 30% chance of winning, according to Radde. Her toughest competitor? The woman who has devoted her 2025 season entirely to winning the Ironman World Championship – Kat Matthews (GBR). Matthews only raced a handful of times this season, a stark change from last year. Her winning odds are set at 25%.
While she is less favored, no one is counting out 2023 champion Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR), who has a 15% chance of winning. Her recent performances show she’s in great form despite having to pull out of the 2024 Ironman World Championship in Nice last year.
Two Americans round out the top five athletes likely to get a great deal of airtime during the live broadcast. Chelsea Sodaro (2022 rookie champion) and Taylor Knibb (fourth in her Ironman debut in Kona in 2023) each have a 5% chance of winning based on the stats.
Darkhorses that could greatly impact the race include Marjolaine Pierré (FRA), Marta Sanchez (ESP), Jackie Hering (USA), Solveig Løvseth (NOR), and Lisa Perterer (AUT). All odds and expectations are backed by hard facts and data that make for a fascinating read. Let’s see if Radde calls it again.
