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Triathlon · Interesting Facts

Chapter 6: Quirky Trivia

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

The odd side of triathlon: famous faces at Kona, the longest races, comebacks, a triathlon in space, swimrun's bet, a king's Ironman, snow, sharks and hurricanes, seven continents in three weeks and races at the ends of the earth.

6.61Famous Faces at Kona

Footballers, a speed skater, a chef and a racing driver who finished the Ironman World Championship.

Test 1Celebrity finishersTake a test

  1. He took up triathlon after retiring from football in 2011.

    Source: NFL.com, 'Hines Ward respects triathletes after finishing grueling Ironman' (2013); Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers' · recall

  2. He is one of the most decorated US Winter Olympians.

    Source: NBC Sports, 'Apolo Ohno finishes Ironman World Championships' (2014); Triathlete (2014) · recall

  3. He finished in 9:52:27, the fastest of the celebrity finishers.

    Source: NBC Sports, 'Apolo Ohno finishes Ironman World Championships' (2014); Triathlete (2014) · recall

  4. He had finished in about 14 hours the year before.

    Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers' · recall

  5. He finished in 14 hours 43 minutes.

    Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers' · recall

  6. He finished in 12:52:40 and has raced several Ironmans.

    Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers' · recall

  7. He crossed the line in 16:44.

    Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers' · recall

  8. 1995, 2008, 2011 and 2014.

    Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers' · recall

  9. 9:52, 13:08, about 14:04 and 16:44.

    Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers'; NBC Sports · recall

  10. He finished in 13:08:15 and said the race earned his respect for triathletes.

    Source: NFL.com, 'Hines Ward respects triathletes after finishing grueling Ironman' (2013) · recall

6.62Endless Days

Guinness records for the longest triathlons ever completed.

Test 1The longest triathlonsTake a test

  1. Guinness lists him as being from the United Kingdom.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)' · recall

  2. She set it on 24 June 2023.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)' · recall

  3. That is well over one and a half times a full Ironman.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)' · recall

  4. His journey covered 9,555 km.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)' · recall

  5. It ran from 18 June to 30 November 2023.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)' · recall

  6. It was a series of stages, not one continuous effort.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)' · recall

  7. That is why Castelli's distance dwarfs the single-event marks.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)' · recall

  8. 373.3 km, 515.91 km and 9,555 km.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)' · recall

  9. June 2023, June to November 2023 and June 2025.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)' · recall

  10. It is a Guinness World Record for men.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)' · recall

6.63Unfinished Business

Two athletes who missed a cut-off and came back to finish.

Test 1Coming back to finishTake a test

  1. She was born with a bone growth disorder, proximal femoral focal deficiency.

    Source: Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29 · recall

  2. She came back the next year.

    Source: Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29 · recall

  3. She crossed the line in just over 15 hours.

    Source: Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29 · recall

  4. The race was in Tempe on 22 November 2009.

    Source: 360 O&P, 'Rudy Garcia-Tolson becomes first double above-knee amputee to complete Ironman'; ABILITY Magazine · recall

  5. He tried again almost at once.

    Source: 360 O&P, 'Rudy Garcia-Tolson becomes first double above-knee amputee to complete Ironman'; ABILITY Magazine · recall

  6. The full distance must be finished within 17 hours.

    Source: 360 O&P, 'Rudy Garcia-Tolson becomes first double above-knee amputee to complete Ironman'; ABILITY Magazine · recall

  7. More than a dozen operations had failed to correct his legs.

    Source: 360 O&P, 'Rudy Garcia-Tolson becomes first double above-knee amputee to complete Ironman'; ABILITY Magazine · recall

  8. 2004, 2005, and October and November 2009.

    Source: Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29; 360 O&P · recall

  9. 1:00:42, 6:00:22 and 8:44:45.

    Source: 360 O&P, 'Rudy Garcia-Tolson becomes first double above-knee amputee to complete Ironman'; ABILITY Magazine · recall

  10. She finished in just over 15 hours.

    Source: Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29 · recall

6.64A Triathlon in Orbit

An astronaut swam, rode and ran on the International Space Station.

Test 1The first triathlon in spaceTake a test

  1. She was commander of Expedition 33 at the time.

    Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012) · recall

  2. The Advanced Resistive Exercise Device approximated swimming with weightlifting moves.

    Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012) · recall

  3. 'I'm happy to be done,' she said from orbit.

    Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012) · recall

  4. She swam half a mile and ran four.

    Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012) · recall

  5. She finished it in 4:23:10.

    Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012) · recall

  6. He is a neurosurgeon and CNN's medical correspondent.

    Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012) · recall

  7. That is about 386 km.

    Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012) · recall

  8. 2007, 14 July 2012, 12 August 2012 and 16 September 2012.

    Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012) · recall

  9. Half a mile, 4 miles and 18 miles.

    Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012) · recall

  10. She used the treadmill and bike with harnesses and straps in place of gravity.

    Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012) · recall

6.65Island to Island

A drunken bet in the Stockholm archipelago that became swimrun.

Test 1ÖTILLÖ and swimrunTake a test

  1. The crossing of the Stockholm archipelago was about 70 km.

    Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com) · recall

  2. ÖTILLÖ calls it the first recorded swimrun.

    Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com) · recall

  3. They raced in pairs, swimming and running from island to island.

    Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com) · recall

  4. The two had more than ten years of professional adventure racing behind them.

    Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com) · recall

  5. The original race became the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship.

    Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com) · recall

  6. The route has not changed since 2002.

    Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com) · recall

  7. The world championship is held on the first Monday in September.

    Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com) · recall

  8. 2002, 2006, 2012 and 2022.

    Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com) · recall

  9. 4, 24, about 26 and about 70.

    Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com) · recall

  10. Early racers had to wear a life vest; one team turned up with inflatable phones.

    Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com) · recall

6.66The Iron Prince

A crown prince, later king, at the first IRONMAN Copenhagen.

Test 1A royal IronmanTake a test

  1. He raced the first KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen.

    Source: The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013) · recall

  2. He crossed the line at 17:45.

    Source: The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013) · recall

  3. He swam 1:10:16 and rode 5:25:19.

    Source: The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013) · recall

  4. Some 800 came from abroad, from over 40 countries.

    Source: The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013) · recall

  5. The winner came from Odense.

    Source: The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013) · recall

  6. That made him the first king to have finished an Ironman.

    Source: The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013) · recall

  7. Crown Princess Mary and their two eldest children came to watch.

    Source: The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013) · recall

  8. 1:10:16, 3:58:47 and 5:25:19.

    Source: The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013) · recall

  9. 45, over 40, 800 and about 2,600.

    Source: The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013) · recall

  10. The swim was at Amager Strandpark and the run along the harbour front.

    Source: The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013) · recall

6.67Frozen Tahoe

Snow, icicles and a 21% dropout rate at the first IRONMAN Lake Tahoe.

Test 1IRONMAN Lake Tahoe 2013Take a test

  1. Triathlete counts it among the coldest Ironmans in history.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com) · recall

  2. Steam rose from the athletes at the swim start.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com) · recall

  3. Many took more than 25 minutes in the swim-to-bike transition.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com) · recall

  4. The bike course had about 6,500 feet of climbing.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com) · recall

  5. The tents did little to warm the athletes.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com) · recall

  6. Triathlete called it among the highest dropout rates in IRONMAN history.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com) · recall

  7. Sweden's Asa Lundstrom won the women's race in 9:58.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com) · recall

  8. 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com) · recall

  9. 2, 182, 267 and about 6,500.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com) · recall

  10. Chris McDonald still rode the fastest bike split, 4:55:42.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com) · recall

6.68Hurricanes and Sharks

When storms and wildlife moved races or stopped the swim.

Test 1Races disrupted by natureTake a test

  1. It used the course of IRONMAN 70.3 Florida, with changes for the full distance.

    Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Florida to return to Panama City Beach in 2019' (2018) · recall

  2. The race went back to Panama City Beach in 2019.

    Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Florida to return to Panama City Beach in 2019' (2018) · recall

  3. A 5K in Haines City raised money for Panama City Beach too.

    Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Florida to return to Panama City Beach in 2019' (2018) · recall

  4. It was the second Busselton race shortened that year.

    Source: Busselton-Dunsborough Times, 'New swim course for Ironman events' (2018); Triathlon Magazine Canada (2017) · recall

  5. The half-distance race had lost its swim in May.

    Source: Busselton-Dunsborough Times, 'New swim course for Ironman events' (2018); Triathlon Magazine Canada (2017) · recall

  6. The full Ironman swim became two loops so safety crews could cover it better.

    Source: Busselton-Dunsborough Times, 'New swim course for Ironman events' (2018); Triathlon Magazine Canada (2017) · recall

  7. The Orange County Sheriff's Department filmed them.

    Source: Busselton-Dunsborough Times, 'New swim course for Ironman events' (2018); Triathlon Magazine Canada (2017) · recall

  8. May 2017, May 2017, December 2017, November 2018 and 2026.

    Source: Busselton-Dunsborough Times, 'New swim course for Ironman events' (2018); Triathlon Magazine Canada (2017) · recall

  9. 2.5, 300, 600 and up to 1,460.

    Source: Busselton-Dunsborough Times, 'New swim course for Ironman events' (2018); Triathlon Magazine Canada (2017) · recall

  10. Organisers called the swim off on the eve of the race.

    Source: Tri247, 'Swim cancelled at IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo' (2026) · recall

6.69Seven Continents

Seven full-distance triathlons in 21 days, the last on Antarctica.

Test 1Project SE7ENTake a test

  1. He raced from 13 November to 4 December 2025.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place · recall

  2. He had raced the other six in the 21 days before.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place · recall

  3. It was raced on 3 and 4 December 2025.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place · recall

  4. The others were in London, Arizona, Perth, Dubai and Rio de Janeiro.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place · recall

  5. Guinness lists all seven venues on the record page.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place · recall

  6. The charity works to prevent male suicide.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place · recall

  7. Antarctica followed it to close the challenge.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place · recall

  8. From the American Southwest to Western Australia.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place · recall

  9. About 11 hours, 29 hours, 35 hours and 21 days.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place · recall

  10. He had never done a full-distance triathlon before the challenge.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place · recall

6.70Ends of the Earth

Extreme triathlons in Patagonia and Alaska.

Test 1Patagonman and AlaskamanTake a test

  1. Athletes from 45 countries took part.

    Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017) · recall

  2. The run heads towards General Carrera Lake.

    Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017) · recall

  3. The bike leg is 180 km.

    Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017) · recall

  4. It symbolises the end of each athlete's journey.

    Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017) · recall

  5. The 2025 race was its sixth edition.

    Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017) · recall

  6. He finished in 11:18:29 and won again in 2019.

    Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017) · recall

  7. The run ended with two climbs up Mount Alyeska.

    Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017) · recall

  8. 2003, 2017 and 2018.

    Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017) · recall

  9. About 2.67 miles in Resurrection Bay, 27.5 miles and 113.5 miles.

    Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017) · recall

  10. The race is part of the Xtri World Tour.

    Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017) · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: NASA reports via Scientific American and Space.com, the Danish Royal House, ÖTILLÖ, Guinness World Records, Triathlete, Trizone, Triathlon Magazine Canada, Tri247, Endurance Business, Anchorage Daily News.

  • Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)'10
  • Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012)10
  • ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com)10
  • The Danish Royal House, 'HRH The Crown Prince completes KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2013' (kongehuset.dk); The Copenhagen Post, 'The iron prince' (2013)10
  • Triathlete, 'Recalled: A Frigid Day at the 2013 IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Triathlon' and 'IRONMAN Lake Tahoe sees 20% DNF rate' (triathlete.com)10
  • Guinness World Records, 'Fastest time to complete a 140.6-mile triathlon distance on seven continents (male)' and '... on Antarctica (male)'; James' Place10
  • Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017)10
  • Busselton-Dunsborough Times, 'New swim course for Ironman events' (2018); Triathlon Magazine Canada (2017)6
  • Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers'5
  • 360 O&P, 'Rudy Garcia-Tolson becomes first double above-knee amputee to complete Ironman'; ABILITY Magazine5
  • Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery294
  • Trizone, 'Ironman Florida to return to Panama City Beach in 2019' (2018)3
  • NBC Sports, 'Apolo Ohno finishes Ironman World Championships' (2014); Triathlete (2014)2
  • NFL.com, 'Hines Ward respects triathletes after finishing grueling Ironman' (2013); Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers'1
  • Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers'; NBC Sports1
  • NFL.com, 'Hines Ward respects triathletes after finishing grueling Ironman' (2013)1
  • Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29; 360 O&P1
  • Tri247, 'Swim cancelled at IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo' (2026)1