# Chapter 6: Quirky Trivia

Triathlon · Chapter 6: Quirky Trivia · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/triathlon/interesting-facts/chapter-6-quirky-trivia/)

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.

## 6.61 Famous Faces at Kona

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

### Test 1: Celebrity finishers

- 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')
- He is one of the most decorated US Winter Olympians. (Source: NBC Sports, 'Apolo Ohno finishes Ironman World Championships' (2014); Triathlete (2014))
- He finished in 9:52:27, the fastest of the celebrity finishers. (Source: NBC Sports, 'Apolo Ohno finishes Ironman World Championships' (2014); Triathlete (2014))
- He had finished in about 14 hours the year before. (Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers')
- He finished in 14 hours 43 minutes. (Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers')
- He finished in 12:52:40 and has raced several Ironmans. (Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers')
- He crossed the line in 16:44. (Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers')
- 1995, 2008, 2011 and 2014. (Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers')
- 9:52, 13:08, about 14:04 and 16:44. (Source: Active.com, 'Celebrities who are Kona IRONMAN World Championship finishers'; NBC Sports)
- 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))

## 6.62 Endless Days

Guinness records for the longest triathlons ever completed.

### Test 1: The longest triathlons

- Guinness lists him as being from the United Kingdom. (Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)')
- She set it on 24 June 2023. (Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)')
- 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)')
- His journey covered 9,555 km. (Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)')
- It ran from 18 June to 30 November 2023. (Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)')
- 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)')
- 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)')
- 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)')
- June 2023, June to November 2023 and June 2025. (Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)')
- It is a Guinness World Record for men. (Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest single-event triathlon' (male and female) and 'Longest triathlon (male)')

## 6.63 Unfinished Business

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

### Test 1: Coming back to finish

- She was born with a bone growth disorder, proximal femoral focal deficiency. (Source: Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29)
- She came back the next year. (Source: Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29)
- She crossed the line in just over 15 hours. (Source: Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29)
- 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)
- He tried again almost at once. (Source: 360 O&P, 'Rudy Garcia-Tolson becomes first double above-knee amputee to complete Ironman'; ABILITY Magazine)
- 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)
- 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)
- 2004, 2005, and October and November 2009. (Source: Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29; 360 O&P)
- 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)
- She finished in just over 15 hours. (Source: Challenged Athletes Foundation, 'Sarah Reinertsen's global impact' (challengedathletes.org); Refinery29)

## 6.64 A Triathlon in Orbit

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

### Test 1: The first triathlon in space

- 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))
- 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))
- '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))
- She swam half a mile and ran four. (Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012))
- She finished it in 4:23:10. (Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012))
- 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))
- That is about 386 km. (Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012))
- 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))
- Half a mile, 4 miles and 18 miles. (Source: Scientific American and NBC News (Space.com), 'NASA astronaut completes first triathlon in space' (2012))
- 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))

## 6.65 Island to Island

A drunken bet in the Stockholm archipelago that became swimrun.

### Test 1: ÖTILLÖ and swimrun

- The crossing of the Stockholm archipelago was about 70 km. (Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com))
- ÖTILLÖ calls it the first recorded swimrun. (Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com))
- They raced in pairs, swimming and running from island to island. (Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com))
- 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))
- The original race became the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship. (Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com))
- The route has not changed since 2002. (Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com))
- The world championship is held on the first Monday in September. (Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com))
- 2002, 2006, 2012 and 2022. (Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com))
- 4, 24, about 26 and about 70. (Source: ÖTILLÖ, 'About' and '15 years of Swimrun - the founders' story' (otilloswimrun.com))
- 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))

## 6.66 The Iron Prince

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

### Test 1: A royal Ironman

- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))

## 6.67 Frozen Tahoe

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

### Test 1: IRONMAN Lake Tahoe 2013

- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))

## 6.68 Hurricanes and Sharks

When storms and wildlife moved races or stopped the swim.

### Test 1: Races disrupted by nature

- 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))
- The race went back to Panama City Beach in 2019. (Source: Trizone, 'Ironman Florida to return to Panama City Beach in 2019' (2018))
- 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))
- It was the second Busselton race shortened that year. (Source: Busselton-Dunsborough Times, 'New swim course for Ironman events' (2018); Triathlon Magazine Canada (2017))
- 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))
- 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))
- The Orange County Sheriff's Department filmed them. (Source: Busselton-Dunsborough Times, 'New swim course for Ironman events' (2018); Triathlon Magazine Canada (2017))
- 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))
- 2.5, 300, 600 and up to 1,460. (Source: Busselton-Dunsborough Times, 'New swim course for Ironman events' (2018); Triathlon Magazine Canada (2017))
- Organisers called the swim off on the eve of the race. (Source: Tri247, 'Swim cancelled at IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo' (2026))

## 6.69 Seven Continents

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

### Test 1: Project SE7EN

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

## 6.70 Ends of the Earth

Extreme triathlons in Patagonia and Alaska.

### Test 1: Patagonman and Alaskaman

- Athletes from 45 countries took part. (Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017))
- The run heads towards General Carrera Lake. (Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017))
- The bike leg is 180 km. (Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017))
- 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))
- The 2025 race was its sixth edition. (Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017))
- 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))
- 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))
- 2003, 2017 and 2018. (Source: Endurance Business, 'Inaugural Patagonman Xtri welcomes 45 nations' (2018); Anchorage Daily News, Alaskaman reports (2016, 2017))
- 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))
- 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))

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.

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral