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Triathlon · Interesting Facts

Chapter 2: Records & Statistics

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 16 October 2026 · markdown

Records and numbers: the oldest finishers and the biggest tallies, Olympic times and margins, Kona's and Roth's record books, the series and its finals in figures, the world championship fields counted, and Guinness feats.

2.21Age Records

The oldest man and woman ever to finish the Ironman World Championship, and the records they broke.

Test 1Finishing late in lifeTake a test

  1. Guinness World Records recognised her finish.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Oldest person to complete the IRONMAN 140.6 World Championship (female)'; GWR news (2025) · recall

  2. Guinness described her as a woman who started triathlons in her 60s.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Oldest person to complete the IRONMAN 140.6 World Championship (female)'; GWR news (2025) · recall

  3. Grabow was 80 years and 69 days old.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Oldest person to complete the IRONMAN 140.6 World Championship (female)'; GWR news (2025) · recall

  4. She told NBC that triathlon is her passion.

    Source: NBC News, '80-year-old N.J. woman isn't slowing down after Ironman triathlon finish' (2025) · recall

  5. Inada later raised the record when he finished in 2018.

    Source: TRI247, '92-year-old IRONMAN triathlete completes 70.3-mile course in iconic Australian race' (2025); Guinness World Records, 'Oldest person t · recall

  6. He finished in 10:11:23, not quite inside the limit.

    Source: TRI247, '92-year-old IRONMAN triathlete completes 70.3-mile course in iconic Australian race' (2025) · recall

  7. Her finish time was 16 hours 45 minutes 26 seconds.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Oldest person to complete the IRONMAN 140.6 World Championship (female)'; GWR news (2025) · recall

  8. 2012, 2018, 2022 and 2025.

    Source: Guinness World Records; TRI247 · recall

  9. 78, 80, 82 and 85.

    Source: Guinness World Records; TRI247 · recall

  10. She became the oldest woman to finish the race.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Oldest person to complete the IRONMAN 140.6 World Championship (female)'; GWR news (2025) · recall

2.22Counting Races

The largest triathlon and the most races ever finished.

Test 1The most racesTake a test

  1. Guinness counts finishers at a single venue on one day.

    Source: Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)' · recall

  2. It was held on 12 September 2010.

    Source: Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)' · recall

  3. Triathlon Magazine Canada notes the entry is now out of date.

    Source: Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)'; Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Triathlon in · recall

  4. He set the mark between September 2014 and August 2015.

    Source: Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)' · recall

  5. The record covers the year ending 30 May 2026.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Most long-distance (113 km) triathlon races completed in one year' · recall

  6. He kept adding races after that milestone.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Triathlon in the Guinness World Records' · recall

  7. That is why big entry lists elsewhere do not count.

    Source: Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)' · recall

  8. 26, 44, 250 and 4,546.

    Source: Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)'; Guinness World Records, 'Most long-distance (113 km) triathl · recall

  9. 2006, 2010, 2015 and 2026.

    Source: Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)'; Guinness World Records, 'Most long-distance (113 km) triathl · recall

  10. It is the Guinness record for full-distance races in a year.

    Source: Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)' · recall

2.23The Olympic Clock

Crowds, margins and winning times from Sydney to Paris.

Test 1Olympic times and marginsTake a test

  1. The women's race started at Farm Cove, in the shadow of the Opera House.

    Source: World Triathlon, '10th Anniversary of Triathlon in the Olympic Games' (triathlon.org) · recall

  2. McMahon sprinted past on the home straight; Jones had won the test event five months earlier.

    Source: World Triathlon, '10th Anniversary of Triathlon in the Olympic Games' (triathlon.org) · recall

  3. The former Olympic swimmer could not hold the lead through the bike leg.

    Source: World Triathlon, '10th Anniversary of Triathlon in the Olympic Games' (triathlon.org) · recall

  4. He had fallen off his bike and was more than a minute down before the run.

    Source: World Triathlon, '10th Anniversary of Triathlon in the Olympic Games' (triathlon.org) · recall

  5. He pulled ahead in the final stretch; Vuckovic took silver, as he had at the test event in April.

    Source: World Triathlon, '10th Anniversary of Triathlon in the Olympic Games' (triathlon.org) · recall

  6. Carter finished in 1:51:06 and Docherty in 1:51:14, a New Zealand one-two.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Olympic History' (triathlon.org) · recall

  7. Blummenfelt won in 1:45:04, Yee finished in 1:45:15.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Olympic History' (triathlon.org) · recall

  8. 1:45:04, 1:46:25, 1:48:24 and 1:51:06; every course was different.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Olympic History' (triathlon.org) · recall

  9. Britain finished in 1:23:41, 14 seconds clear of the USA.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Olympic History' (triathlon.org) · recall

  10. Germany finished in 1:25:39; the USA and Britain both crossed in 1:25:40.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Olympic History' (triathlon.org) · recall

2.24Kona's Record Book

The course records and splits of the IRONMAN World Championship on the Big Island.

Test 1Kona recordsTake a test

  1. He took almost five minutes off Gustav Iden's 2022 record, aged 38.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Patrick Lange Wins 2024 IRONMAN World Championship in Course Record' (triathlete.com) · recall

  2. His 2022 ride of 4:04:36 had already broken the record; in 2024 seven men went under the old mark.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Patrick Lange Wins 2024 IRONMAN World Championship in Course Record' (triathlete.com) · recall

  3. He beat Patrick Lange's 2:39:45 from 2016.

    Source: NBC Sports, 'Gustav Iden wins Ironman Kona world title' (nbcsports.com, 2022) · recall

  4. Lange won by almost eight minutes from Magnus Ditlev.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Patrick Lange Wins 2024 IRONMAN World Championship in Course Record' (triathlete.com) · recall

  5. Her winning time was 8:24:31.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Lucy Charles-Barclay smashes course record to win first Ironman World Championship' (2023) · recall

  6. Australian age-grouper Sam Askey-Doran swam it; the women's record is Lucy Charles-Barclay's 48:14 from 2018.

    Source: Tri247, 'IRONMAN Kona records: the best ever World Championship times on the Big Island' (tri247.com) · recall

  7. It fell in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022; the mark before that was 8:03:56.

    Source: NBC Sports, 'Gustav Iden wins Ironman Kona world title' (nbcsports.com, 2022) · recall

  8. 2011, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Patrick Lange Wins 2024 IRONMAN World Championship in Course Record' (triathlete.com) · recall

  9. Laidlow, who led off the bike, faded to 18th.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Patrick Lange Wins 2024 IRONMAN World Championship in Course Record' (triathlete.com) · recall

  10. She rode 4:26:07 on her way to the 2018 title.

    Source: Tri247, 'IRONMAN Kona records: the best ever World Championship times on the Big Island' (tri247.com) · recall

2.25Roth's Milestones

The first sub-nine and sub-eight hours and the closest finishes at Roth.

Test 1Roth recordsTake a test

  1. The Dutch athlete finished in 8:55:29, nine minutes ahead of Australia's Jan Wanklyn.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com) · recall

  2. He finished in 7:57:02.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com) · recall

  3. The Belgian's time stood for well over a decade.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com) · recall

  4. Triathlete called it the closest finish at Roth to that point.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com) · recall

  5. She won three Roth races in a row, 2009 to 2011, lowering the best each time.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com) · recall

  6. Her 8:43:42 was a German record and Germany's first women's win at Roth in 14 years.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com) · recall

  7. Frodeno's 7:35:39 in 2016 was nearly six minutes faster.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com) · recall

  8. 1991, 1996, 1997 and 2011.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com) · recall

  9. 7:50:27, 7:57:02, 8:22:04 and 8:55:29.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com) · recall

  10. Frodeno called Roth 'the greatest race' and won Kona three months later.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com) · recall

2.26The Series in Numbers

The World Triathlon Series counted at its 50th race.

Test 1The series by numbersTake a test

  1. The series format had begun in 2009.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015) · recall

  2. The races had covered all five continental regions.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015) · recall

  3. In all 694 athletes had raced in it since 2009.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015) · recall

  4. World Triathlon gave the figure on the series' 50th race.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015) · recall

  5. She had 10 wins from 26 starts at that point.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015) · recall

  6. Jorgensen led on race wins.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015) · recall

  7. The Brownlee brothers alone had 41 medals between them.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015) · recall

  8. 16, 27, 60 and 65.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015) · recall

  9. 29, 17, 15 and 10.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015) · recall

  10. Gomez Noya had the most podiums, with 29.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015) · recall

2.27Finals Facts

Margins, run records and starts at the series finals.

Test 1Series finals statisticsTake a test

  1. His 20-second win in 2010 is the biggest men's margin at a final.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024) · recall

  2. Three women's finals have been won by over a minute.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024) · recall

  3. Seven of the first 14 men's finals were won by under five seconds.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024) · recall

  4. Duffy won three finals: 2016, 2017 and 2022.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024) · recall

  5. It was one of three women's finals won by five seconds or less.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024) · recall

  6. Two were decided by zero seconds.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024) · recall

  7. Schoeman had done the same in 2016.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024) · recall

  8. 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023: she won the final a year after finishing 32nd.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024) · recall

  9. 1:42, 20 seconds, 2 seconds and 0 seconds.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024) · recall

  10. Alex Yee and Hayden Wilde later set the fastest standard-distance run splits in series history.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024) · recall

2.28Kona by Numbers

Who came to race the world championship in 2024 and 2025.

Test 1Kona fields countedTake a test

  1. The women raced their own world championship in Nice that year.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'The 2024 IRONMAN World Championship Kona by the numbers' · recall

  2. The USA had 638 men and Germany 266.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'The 2024 IRONMAN World Championship Kona by the numbers' · recall

  3. He was New Zealand's Warren Hill; the youngest was 20.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'The 2024 IRONMAN World Championship Kona by the numbers' · recall

  4. That was more than the number of athletes on the course.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'The 2024 IRONMAN World Championship Kona by the numbers' · recall

  5. North America supplied 29%.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'The 2024 IRONMAN World Championship Kona by the numbers' · recall

  6. The oldest was 80-year-old Natalie Grabow.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kona by the Numbers: More Than 1,600 Women Set to Race 2025 IRONMAN World Championship' · recall

  7. The winner took US$125,000.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kona by the Numbers: More Than 1,600 Women Set to Race 2025 IRONMAN World Championship' · recall

  8. 638, 266, 183, 158 and 138.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'The 2024 IRONMAN World Championship Kona by the numbers' · recall

  9. 482, 207, 114 and 102.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kona by the Numbers: More Than 1,600 Women Set to Race 2025 IRONMAN World Championship' · recall

  10. Triathlon Magazine Canada counted them among the field's numbers.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'The 2024 IRONMAN World Championship Kona by the numbers' · recall

2.29Guinness Feats

Records set blindfolded, carrying a teammate and over back-to-back races.

Test 1Guinness recordsTake a test

  1. He swam, rode and ran with his guide Duncan Shea-Simonds.

    Source: Guinness World Records, triathlon record pages (guinnessworldrecords.com) · recall

  2. They finished in 3:39:37.

    Source: Guinness World Records, triathlon record pages (guinnessworldrecords.com) · recall

  3. He finished in 16:46:09 with his guide Dan Grieb.

    Source: CBS Sports, 'Florida man becomes first athlete with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman' (2020); Guinness World Records · recall

  4. Guinness calls him the first athlete with Down syndrome to finish an IRONMAN with no guide, in 15:35:09.

    Source: Guinness World Records, triathlon record pages (guinnessworldrecords.com) · recall

  5. Her total time was 34:35:59.

    Source: Guinness World Records, triathlon record pages (guinnessworldrecords.com) · recall

  6. They finished five: two in Canada and three in Hawaii.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Triathlon in the Guinness World Records' (2017) · recall

  7. Guinness approved the costume only after it was altered to sit below her knees.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Triathlon in the Guinness World Records' (2017) · recall

  8. 2016, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2025.

    Source: Guinness World Records, triathlon record pages (guinnessworldrecords.com) · recall

  9. 3:39:37, 11:03:31, 15:35:09 and 34:35:59.

    Source: Guinness World Records, triathlon record pages (guinnessworldrecords.com) · recall

  10. Guinness lists it as the fastest IRONMAN completed blindfolded; he has raced for Britain in para triathlon.

    Source: Guinness World Records, triathlon record pages (guinnessworldrecords.com) · recall

2.3070.3 Worlds by Numbers

The half-distance world championship fields of Lahti and Taupō.

Test 170.3 fields countedTake a test

  1. 37% raced on the women's day and 63% on the men's.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Ironman 70.3 World Championship by the numbers' (2023) · recall

  2. The hosts, Finland, sent over 200.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Ironman 70.3 World Championship by the numbers' (2023) · recall

  3. North America supplied 22%.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Ironman 70.3 World Championship by the numbers' (2023) · recall

  4. Among them were Armenia, Ghana, Nepal and Rwanda.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Ironman 70.3 World Championship by the numbers' (2023) · recall

  5. The average age of all registrants was 42.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Ironman 70.3 World Championship by the numbers' (2023) · recall

  6. The USA had 1,586 athletes and Australia 765; the hosts sent 401.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo by the Numbers' (2024) · recall

  7. Hayden Wilde, Julie Derron and Leo Bergere.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo by the Numbers' (2024) · recall

  8. 1,152, 517, 515, 453 and 250: France edged Germany by two.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Ironman 70.3 World Championship by the numbers' (2023) · recall

  9. 31%, 29%, 18% and 12%.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo by the Numbers' (2024) · recall

  10. Lahti was the tenth city to host the event.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Ironman 70.3 World Championship by the numbers' (2023) · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: World Triathlon, IRONMAN figures as published by Triathlon Magazine Canada and Slowtwitch, Triathlete, NBC Sports, Tri247, Guinness World Records. Records that can still move are asked as what happened on the day.

  • Triathlete, 'Recalled: The Historic Moments of Challenge Roth' (triathlete.com)10
  • World Triathlon, 'World Triathlon Series hits 50-race milestone' (triathlon.org, 2015)10
  • World Triathlon, 'Looking back over the history and stats of the WTCS Finals' (triathlon.org, 2024)10
  • Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'The 2024 IRONMAN World Championship Kona by the numbers'7
  • Guinness World Records, triathlon record pages (guinnessworldrecords.com)7
  • Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Ironman 70.3 World Championship by the numbers' (2023)7
  • Guinness World Records, 'Oldest person to complete the IRONMAN 140.6 World Championship (female)'; GWR news (2025)5
  • Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)'5
  • World Triathlon, '10th Anniversary of Triathlon in the Olympic Games' (triathlon.org)5
  • World Triathlon, 'Olympic History' (triathlon.org)5
  • Triathlete, 'Patrick Lange Wins 2024 IRONMAN World Championship in Course Record' (triathlete.com)5
  • Slowtwitch, 'Kona by the Numbers: More Than 1,600 Women Set to Race 2025 IRONMAN World Championship'3
  • Slowtwitch, 'The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo by the Numbers' (2024)3
  • Guinness World Records; TRI2472
  • Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)'; Guinness World Records, 'Most long-distance (113 km) triathl2
  • NBC Sports, 'Gustav Iden wins Ironman Kona world title' (nbcsports.com, 2022)2
  • Tri247, 'IRONMAN Kona records: the best ever World Championship times on the Big Island' (tri247.com)2
  • Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Triathlon in the Guinness World Records' (2017)2
  • NBC News, '80-year-old N.J. woman isn't slowing down after Ironman triathlon finish' (2025)1
  • TRI247, '92-year-old IRONMAN triathlete completes 70.3-mile course in iconic Australian race' (2025); Guinness World Records, 'Oldest person t1
  • TRI247, '92-year-old IRONMAN triathlete completes 70.3-mile course in iconic Australian race' (2025)1
  • Guinness World Records: 'Largest triathlon race', 'Most triathlons completed', 'Most 140.6-mile triathlon races completed in one year (male)'; Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Triathlon in1
  • Guinness World Records, 'Most long-distance (113 km) triathlon races completed in one year'1
  • Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Triathlon in the Guinness World Records'1
  • Triathlon Magazine Canada, 'Lucy Charles-Barclay smashes course record to win first Ironman World Championship' (2023)1
  • CBS Sports, 'Florida man becomes first athlete with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman' (2020); Guinness World Records1