27 Age-Group Athletes from around the globe claim 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship Division Titles in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i
October 9, 2022
KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i (October 9, 2022) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – It was a historical week for the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship as for the first time in the event’s history the race took place over two days on Thursday, Oct. 6 and Oct. 8. While the world saw the amazing races from Chelsea Sodaro (USA) and Gustav Iden (NOR), both first time world champions of the event, there were 27 other IRONMAN World Champions crowned in the amateur divisions at the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN® World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i, United States on Thursday and Saturday, October 6 & 8.
More than 5,000 registered athletes representing more than 92 countries, regions, and territories from around the globe ranged in age from 18-82 as they converged on the Island of Hawai`i for the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN® World Championship triathlon. The iconic endurance event returned to Kailua-Kona for the first time in three years as the IRONMAN `Ohana united to Kū Like (stand together) as athletes made their long-awaited trip to compete in triathlon’s pinnacle event
Of the 27 age-group division world champions, 10 hailed from the United States while Brazil, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland all had two world champions each. Rounding out the representing countries of the 2022 world champions was Australia, Austria, China, Denmark, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and Poland with one each.
2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship Age-Group World Champions
| Division | Name | City, State, Province, Country | Swim | Bike | Run | Overall |
| F18-24 | Julia Sanz Iglesias | W Lafayette, Ind. (USA) | 1:04:28 | 5:27:35 | 3:47:18 | 10:26:30 |
| F25-29 | Henrike Guber | Mellinghausen (DEU) | 1:09:54 | 4:59:02 | 3:24:56 | 9:40:14 |
| F30-34 | Magdalena Lenz | Starogard Gdanski (POL) | 1:04:17 | 5:05:13 | 3:21:29 | 9:37:29 |
| F35-39 | Ana Soares | Petrolina (BRA) | 1:05:40 | 5:08:28 | 3:31:12 | 9:53:34 |
| F40-44 | Jana Richtrova | Spring, Texas (USA) | 1:13:50 | 5:06:47 | 3:33:39 | 10:02:31 |
| F45-49 | Liza Rachetto | Boise, Idaho (USA) | 1:02:44 | 5:37:30 | 3:35:52 | 10:23:36 |
| F50-54 | Sandra Daenzer | Oberhofen (CHE) | 1:10:42 | 5:30:44 | 3:54:00 | 10:45:05 |
| F55-59 | Yvonne Timewell | Penticton, B.C. (CAN) | 1:09:48 | 5:46:33 | 4:00:43 | 11:07:19 |
| F60-64 | Sharon Mackinnon | Hamilton, ON (CAN) | 1:15:07 | 6:17:17 | 4:36:45 | 12:25:47 |
| F65-69 | Donna Smyers | Adamant, Vt. (USA) | 1:20:52 | 6:16:40 | 4:31:33 | 12:22:38 |
| F70-74 | Missy Smyers | Visalia, Calif. (USA) | 1:18:09 | 6:55:28 | 5:24:27 | 13:54:22 |
| F75-79 | Cherie Gruenfeld | Cathedral City, Calif. (USA) | 1:30:20 | 7:36:01 | 6:57:53 | 16:20:07 |
| M18-24 | Andoni Valencia | Guadalajara (MEX) | 0:56:05 | 4:43:51 | 3:13:48 | 8:59:58 |
| M25-29 | Matthew Marquardt | Cincinnati, Ohio (USA) | 0:49:58 | 4:38:21 | 3:01:35 | 8:35:49 |
| M30-34 | Miao Hao | Beijing (CHN) | 0:52:23 | 4:41:50 | 3:00:49 | 8:41:11 |
| M35-39 | Tom De Bruyn | San Francisco, Calif. (USA) | 0:59:48 | 4:31:18 | 3:04:23 | 8:41:30 |
| M40-44 | Christian Storzer | Metzingen (DEU) | 0:57:10 | 4:29:06 | 2:59:05 | 8:31:26 |
| M45-49 | Jose Belarmino | Sao Bernardo Do Campo (BRA) | 0:54:07 | 4:45:38 | 3:14:40 | 9:02:31 |
| M50-54 | Ulrik Jespersen | Herning (DNK) | 1:03:40 | 4:50:32 | 3:26:38 | 9:28:24 |
| M55-59 | Anton Walter Elie | Culemborg (NLD) | 1:07:28 | 5:00:02 | 3:35:06 | 9:51:23 |
| M60-64 | Tim Bradley | Merrick, N.Y. (USA) | 1:17:44 | 5:17:04 | 3:43:04 | 10:30:14 |
| M65-69 | Martin Gannon | Fordingbridge (GBR) | 1:18:45 | 5:24:04 | 4:02:18 | 10:55:21 |
| M70-74 | Fred Skinner | New Durham, N.H. (USA) | 1:27:49 | 6:04:02 | 4:59:33 | 12:48:54 |
| M75-79 | Max Hochstrasser | Benglen (CHE) | 1:28:32 | 6:40:37 | 5:44:18 | 14:12:22 |
| M80-84 | Hiroshi Nakata | Toyohashi City (JPN) | 1:20:48 | 8:16:41 | 5:40:18 | 15:41:51 |
| HC – Male | Thomas Fruhwirth | Graz (AUT) | 1:03:01 | 5:01:23 | 2:05:58 | 8:15:39 |
| HC – Female | Lauren Parker | Newcastle (AUS) | 1:03:01 | 7:14:10 | 3:48:38 | 12:20:35 |
Kailua-Kona, located on the west coast of the Island of Hawai`i, offers the perfect year-round climate and ideal location for this iconic, endurance sporting event. Over 5,000 athletes tackled the ROKA 2.4-mile ocean swim in Kailua Bay, followed by the FulGaz 112-mile bicycle ride along the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway from Kailua-Kona to the turnaround in Hawi, and capping their day with a 26.2-mile HOKA run beginning on Ali`i Drive, up Palani Road to the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway, before making their way to the infamous Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai`i Authority. Athletes completed their journey to the roar of thousands of spectators as they crossed the historic Ali`i Drive finish line.
In the professional female race on day one of the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship saw Chelsea Sodaro from the United States earn her first IRONMAN World Championship title, becoming the first rookie to win the event in 15 years and the first American champion in over 25 years. On Saturday the professional men took center stage, and it was Gustav Iden who made history as he became the first Norwegian and first male rookie since the debut of professionals to win the IRONMAN World Championship.
Full results for the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon can be found at www.ironman.com/im-world-championship-2022-results. For additional event information, please visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship-2022. Media inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.
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About the IRONMAN World Championship
Since its inception in 1978 on the Island of O`ahu, the IRONMAN World Championship has etched its name in history through stellar performances, inspirational participants and emotional memories. In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikīkī to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Island of Hawai`i where it continues to take place to this day. The most iconic one-day sporting event in the world is the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with over 94,000 athletes around the world striving for one of the coveted qualifying slots. The 2021 edition of the event took place in St. George, Utah in May 2022, becoming the first location to host the event outside of Hawai`i since its origins in 1978. After a two-year hiatus from Hawai`i due to COVID, the race returns to Kona and takes place for the first time as a two-day event in October for the 2022 edition of the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship. The 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship will see the event continue with the two-day format but with a dedicated race day for women and dedicated race day for men. With two days of racing, the event will host approximately 5,000 athletes as they embark on a 140.6-mile journey that presents the ultimate test of body, mind, and spirit to earn the title of IRONMAN World Champion. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship.
About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf®, UTMB® World Series events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events including Haute Route®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.
About Advance
Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.
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The IRONMAN Group
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Dan Berglund
press@ironman.com
www.ironman.com
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