Origins and the Early Years

The event took place on 25 September 1974 at Mission Bay.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Johnstone and Shanahan, both San Diego Track Club members, combined their ideas into one event.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

The course was set around Fiesta Island in Mission Bay.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Some 46 athletes took part in the first event.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Rather than three single legs, the race switched between running, cycling and swimming several times.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

John Collins and his wife Judy raced at Mission Bay; he went on to create Ironman in 1978.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

It was among the first events billed as a "triathlon" in the US, and it inspired Collins to create Ironman.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

French events in the early twentieth century, sometimes called "les trois sports", mixed running, cycling and a water leg.

Source: World Triathlon, History of the sport (triathlon.org) · recall

The San Diego Track Club supported the event, which grew out of its members' cross-training.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

The race began as a fun way for runners to cross-train and test themselves in other sports.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

The first Ironman took place on 18 February 1978.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Collins was a Navy commander based in Honolulu.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

At an awards night, athletes debated which sport produced the fittest athletes; Collins proposed combining three island races.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Fifteen men started and twelve finished.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Twelve of the fifteen starters reached the finish.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Gordon Haller, a Navy communications specialist, won in 11:46:58.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Haller finished in 11:46:58.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

The instructions read: "Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life!"

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Collins declared that whoever finished first would be called "the Iron Man".

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

There were no aid stations as today; each athlete relied on a personal support crew.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Lyn Lemaire, a cyclist from Boston, finished fifth overall in 1979.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

She finished fifth overall among the small field.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Tom Warren, a San Diego bar owner, won in 1979.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Stormy conditions forced the start to be postponed by a day.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

McDermott's Sports Illustrated story led hundreds of athletes to ask about entering.

Source: McDermott, Sports Illustrated, May 1979 · recall

The field grew to around 108 starters in 1980.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

ABC's Wide World of Sports began covering the race in 1980.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Dave Scott won in 9:24:33, nearly two hours faster than the previous record.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Robin Beck was the women's winner in 1980.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Collins passed the event to Nautilus fitness-centre owner Hank Grundman and his wife Valerie Silk.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

The 1981 race was the first on the Big Island, based in Kailua-Kona.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Growing numbers and heavy traffic around Honolulu raised safety and permit concerns.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Kailua-Kona hosts the swim start in the bay and the finish on Ali'i Drive.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

John Howard, an Olympic cyclist, won the first Kona edition.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Linda Sweeney was the 1981 women's champion.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Valerie Silk directed the race from the early 1980s and grew it into a global event.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Ophthalmologist James Gills bought the rights and formed the World Triathlon Corporation.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

WTC owned the Ironman brand and races from 1990.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

The Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway crosses black lava fields that radiate heat and funnel crosswinds.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

As licensed Ironman races spread abroad, most places came through qualifying slots, plus a small lottery.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Leading close to the finish, Moss collapsed repeatedly and crawled towards the line on live television.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Kathleen McCartney overtook her in the final metres and won.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

McCartney finished 29 seconds ahead.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Moss entered as part of her exercise physiology studies, not as a trained professional.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Mark Allen cited the broadcast as an inspiration; he later married Moss.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

The date moved to October from 1982, so there was a February and an October edition.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Dave Scott won the October 1982 edition, his second title.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Julie Leach won the women's race in October 1982.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Ingraham and Welch collapsed near the line and crawled to fourth and fifth, echoing Moss's 1982 finish.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

The image of refusing to quit became central to Ironman's appeal to ordinary athletes.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Nice held its first international triathlon in 1982 and became a key early professional race.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Allen won Nice ten times, a record that shaped his reputation before his Kona wins.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Nice attracted top athletes with prize money and broadcasting when few races did.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Roth hosted Ironman Europe from 1988 until 2001.

Source: Challenge Roth, History (challenge-roth.com) · recall

The Walchshofer family ended the licence and launched Challenge Roth under their own brand.

Source: Challenge Roth, History (challenge-roth.com) · recall

Embrunman in the Hautes-Alpes has been held since 1984 and is known for its mountainous bike course.

Source: Embrunman, History (embrunman.com) · recall

Zofingen has hosted a long-distance duathlon since 1989, later the Powerman world championship.

Source: Powerman Zofingen, History (powerman.ch) · recall

Ironman Lanzarote began in 1992 and is known for wind and volcanic terrain.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Nice has hosted IRONMAN France since 2005, building on its long triathlon tradition.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Races such as Nice, Roth and Embrun grew as independent events with their own crowds and character.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Jim Curl and Carl Thomas founded the USTS, staging shorter races around the country.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Curl and Thomas built the first national series of short triathlons.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

The USTS popularised what became the standard (later Olympic) distance.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

The ITU was founded at a congress in Avignon in 1989.

Source: World Triathlon, History of the sport (triathlon.org) · recall

Mark Allen won the inaugural world title in Avignon.

Source: World Triathlon, History of the sport (triathlon.org) · recall

New Zealand's Erin Baker won the first women's world title.

Source: World Triathlon, History of the sport (triathlon.org) · recall

Canadian Les McDonald led the ITU from 1989 to 2008.

Source: World Triathlon, History of the sport (triathlon.org) · recall

Drafting was allowed in elite ITU racing from 1995, shaping the Olympic format.

Source: World Triathlon, History of the sport (triathlon.org) · recall

A race of under two hours fits Olympic scheduling and television.

Source: World Triathlon, History of the sport (triathlon.org) · recall

The World Cup series started in 1991, giving elite athletes a regular international circuit.

Source: World Triathlon, History of the sport (triathlon.org) · recall

Empfield's Quintana Roo wetsuit was the first built for triathletes.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Empfield's Superform had a steep seat angle designed for the aero position.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Moving the rider forward keeps the hip angle open when low on aero bars.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Lennon, a ski coach, designed aero bars sold by Scott.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

LeMond used aero bars in the final time trial to overturn Laurent Fignon's lead.

Source: Tour de France official history (letour.fr) · recall

Look's clipless pedal, used by Bernard Hinault, replaced toe clips in racing.

Source: Look Cycle, History (lookcycle.com) · recall

Polar introduced wireless heart rate monitoring in the early 1980s.

Source: Polar, History (polar.com) · recall

Schoberer's SRM crank was the first widely used cycling power meter.

Source: SRM, History (srm.de) · recall

The buoyancy advantage led organisers to regulate wetsuit use by water temperature and thickness.

Source: World Triathlon, History of the sport (triathlon.org) · recall

Early competitors used standard road bikes, often with toe clips and no aero equipment.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

The four dominated professional triathlon through the decade.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Dave Scott was known simply as "The Man".

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Allen was called "The Grip" for his mental hold on races.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Molina's relentless racing earned him the name "The Terminator".

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Molina won the Ironman World Championship in 1988.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Tinley won the February 1982 race and again in 1985.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Dave Scott won six Ironman world titles between 1980 and 1987.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Their battles turned triathlon into a professional sport with sponsors and coverage.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Tinley became a writer and academic, publishing works on the sport's history.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

California, especially the San Diego area, was the centre of early professional triathlon.

Source: Tinley, Triathlon: A Personal History (2008) · recall

Allen and Scott raced side by side for almost the entire day.

Source: Fitzgerald, Iron War (2011) · recall

They were together through the bike and most of the marathon until Allen pulled away in the final miles.

Source: Fitzgerald, Iron War (2011) · recall

Allen finished in 8:09:15, a course record.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Scott finished in 8:10:13, 58 seconds behind.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Allen's 2:40:04 marathon stood as a Kona run record for many years.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Allen surged on the Palani climb in the final miles and Scott could not respond.

Source: Fitzgerald, Iron War (2011) · recall

Allen had tried and failed to win Kona six times before his breakthrough.

Source: Fitzgerald, Iron War (2011) · recall

Fitzgerald's 2011 book tells the story of the race and the two athletes.

Source: Fitzgerald, Iron War (2011) · recall

Allen won five in a row from 1989 to 1993 and a sixth in 1995.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall

Scott placed second behind Greg Welch, a remarkable result at 40.

Source: IRONMAN, History of the IRONMAN World Championship (ironman.com) · recall