2017 IRONMAN World Championship: Inspirational Moments

Written by
Michael Nystrom
Gathering thousands of athletes with just as many stories, the IRONMAN World Championship showcases the world’s strongest triathletes and fellow age groupers competing on the sport’s largest stage. From professional winners and breakout stars to athletes who have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, we’re featuring some of the most inspirational moments from the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
The Three-Peat: Daniela Ryf
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A heavy race favorite, Switzerland's Daniela Ryf raced to her third IRONMAN World Championship title in as many years, becoming the third woman to do so, with a time of 8:50:47. Despite being challenged by Kona rookie Lucy Charles (GBR), Ryf crossed the finish line and into the record books almost nine minutes ahead of second place.
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New Course Record: Patrick Lange
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Last year's bronze medalist, Patrick Lange (GER), seized the day with another record-breaking run split after exiting T2 in 11th place–over 10 minutes behind the leader. Lange sealed the deal when he passed former race leader, Lionel Sanders (CAN), at mile 23 of the marathon. Lange also bested Craig Alexander's course record by over two minutes, with a time of 8:01:40.
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Record-Breaking Bike Split:  Cameron Wurf
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In the age of aero superbikes and uberbikers, Australian Cameron Wurf left his mark on this year's race in a big way. A former World Tour pro and winner of IRONMAN Wales, Wurf entered T2 with a bike split time of 4:12:54, smashing the standing record by over five minutes. His effort would ultimately cost him in the run, however, as he finished 17th overall.
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Most Improved: Lionel Sanders
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Famous for his impressive bike splits and less-than-stellar swim times, Lionel Sanders (CAN) showed up to Kona with one goal: Exit the water with Sebastian Kienle (GER). Not only did the pair enter T1 at the same time, but Sanders was only passed on the marathon in the last three miles. He went on to piece together an impressive second-place podium finish with a time of 8:04:07.
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Best Rookie Performance: Lucy Charles
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The IRONMAN World Championship course is notoriously brutal, especially for rookies. Lucy Charles (GBR) seized the day as she exited the water in first place. She went on to lead the bike with Lauren Brandon (USA), until Daniela Ryf closed the almost-five-minute gap in the final miles of the course. Charles entered the run in second place, holding on for an impressive silver-medal finish behind Ryf.
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Longevity: Team Hoyt
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Famous in the endurance scene and honored as IRONMAN Hall of Fame inductees, Rick and Dick Hoyt have been inspiring those with disabilities since the 1970s. Following Dick's retirement from long-distance racing, Rick and his team headed to Kona with Bryan Lyons at the helm. The duo completed the swim in 1:33:39, but unfortunately missed the 8:10:00 cutoff for the bike.
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Longevity: Team Hoyt
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Famous in the endurance scene and honored as IRONMAN Hall of Fame inductees, Rick and Dick Hoyt have been inspiring those with disabilities since the 1970s. Following Dick's retirement from long-distance racing, Rick and his team headed to Kona with Bryan Lyons at the helm. The duo completed the swim in 1:33:39, but unfortunately missed the 8:10:00 cutoff for the bike.
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The Comeback: Sian Welch
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The crawl: We've all seen it, and it's one of the most iconic images in IRONMAN history. Sian Welch (whose husband is IRONMAN legend, Greg Welch) was a former pro in 1997, looking for a podium finish at the IRONMAN World Championship. The rest is history. After retiring in 2000, Welch created a nonprofit to help provide resources for people with spinal cord injuries. She returned to the Big Island this year to challenge herself and spread awareness for her nonprofit, ultimately finishing in 11:49:31.
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The Finale: Valerie Gonzales
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With 22 IRONMAN finishes under her belt, 71-year-old Valerie Gonzales completed potentially her last IRONMAN World Championship in 2017 with a time of 15:38:44. Gonzales was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009, and an upcoming surgery to remove the cancer will likely end her triathlon career. She has previously toed the line in Kona nine times, but we have a feeling the 10th earned a special place of honor.
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The Survivor: Aron Anderson
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After completing IRONMAN Kalmar in 2016, Aron Anderson was granted an inspirational slot for the IRONMAN World Championship. A cancer survivor debilitated by his aggressive treatment, Anderson has been an advocate for the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation, raising money through expeditions and adventures. He raced on the Big Island in his custom trike and wheelchair, finishing in a time of 12:13:33.
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The Resilient: Kirsten McCay
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It can be tough to balance life, training, relationships and work when preparing for an IRONMAN. Despite overcoming an eating disorder with a move to a vegan diet, Kristen McCay faced a divorce after 21 years of marriage while training for an upcoming race. She packed up her things, moved out of her home and slept on friends' couches—and still managed to qualify at IRONMAN Boulder for the IRONMAN World Championship. With the support of her friends and her online following, this self-help advocate finished on Ali'i Drive in 11:52:12.
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About the Author

More Articles by Michael »Michael Nystrom
A California native, Michael Nystrom graduated from the University of Southern California with a master's degree in journalism. He is a 2x IRONMAN and has done countless sprint- and olympic-distance triathlons. Follow Michael on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.