Valerie Silk, Ironman Owner Who Put Race on Map, Dies at 74
Bob Babbitt remembers the trailblazing former Ironman owner who took a fringe event into the mainstream, forever altering the course of triathlon.
Author
Bob Babbitt
Bob Babbitt began competing in triathlon in the late 70s and is in the Ironman Hall of Fame and the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame. He co-founded Competitor Magazine and the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
My Stories
Breakfast with Bob Men’s 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice
Bob Babbitt sits down with athletes as they prepare for competition.
The 31 Most Important Races in Triathlon History
From 1974 to today, these races shaped the sport of triathlon.
Breakfast with Bob: How Carb-Loading Saved Sebastien Bellin’s Life
Ahead of this weekend's Ironman World Championship, former pro basketball player Sebastien Bellin shares how he survived a suicide bombing in Brussels and his recovery journey to becoming a triathlete.
The Last Time the Ironman World Championship Was Held Twice In A Year
This isn't the first time there have been two Ironman World Championships in the same year. We look back at a fateful February in 1982 that changed our sport forever.
The Origins of Ironman: How Kona Became Kona
Bob Babbitt shares what happened, and Brad Culp explains why it mattered.
Commentary: IMWC, Don’t Leave!
The stories, legends, and ghosts of Kona are the soul of the Ironman World Championship. To move it would strip away the event’s essence.
Recalled: The 1993 Hawaii Ironman
In the 1993 Hawaii Ironman, Pauli Kiuru put the pressure on four-time defending champ Mark Allen.
Recalled: Battle Of The Sexes
Flash back to the first triathlon equalizer.
Recalled: The Emergence Of The 70.3
In 2005, no one could have predicted the explosive growth of the Ironman 70.3 series.