It was a busy weekend of racing around the world, from paratrathlon in Swansea to an extreme triathlon in Norway. A new event debuted in Alaska, while an old favorite in Boulder showcased some of triathlon’s best. Take a trip around the world with these images from the weekend of racing.
Looking for a recap of the USA Triathlon National Age-Group Championships? We’ve got that coming, too! Stay tuned for our on-the-ground recap from Milwaukee.
World Triathlon Para Series Swansea
Swansea, Wales, welcomed the world’s best paratriathletes to contest in the first-ever standalone World Triathlon Para Series race in Great Britain.
The start lists were stacked with fierce competition, featuring Paralympic and world champions and emerging talent, vying for success on the world paratriathlon scene. 99 para triathletes competed across 12 paratriathlon medal events – six for men and six for women.
RELATED: What is Paratriathlon? Understanding Triathlon in the Paralympics
2022 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea was part of a week-long festival of para sport in Wales. The schedule also included the first-ever International Para Triathlon Conference, with delegates from National Federations around the world.
RELATED: Despite Growth, Lack of Opportunity and Unequal Pay Still an Issue in Paratri
Ironman 70.3 Swansea
Swansea also hosted its first-ever Ironman 70.3 competition over the weekend. Brit Alistair Brownlee (pictured) took the win in the men’s pro race with a time of 3:49:34, marking his comeback from a long and frustrating stretch of injury. In the women’s pro race, Kat Matthews (GBR) dominated from start to finish, breaking the tape with a time of 4:25:09.
Norseman
For 290 athletes selected in the annual Norseman XTRA lottery, August 6 was a dream come true. The annual event, widely considered to be one of the hardest triathlon races in the world, starts with a dive off a ferry into 57 degree F waters.
The Norseman bike course features 10,000 feet of climbing over Hardangervidda, the largest mountain plateau in Northern Europe.
RELATED: 8 Reasons Why Norseman is King
The Norseman run includes a scramble up Gaustatoppen, a rocky, relentless 4,600 foot climb to the sky-high finish line.
Jon Breivold of Norway not only defended his title at this year’s race, but set a new men’s course record of 9:23:28. In the women’s race, Elidih Prise of Scotland took the win in her first-ever attempt at the race, clocking a 11:47:49.
Ironman 70.3 Boulder
As the home base for many pro triathletes, Boulder 70.3 is a popular “backyard” race for some of the sport’s biggest names every year. 2022 was no exception, with Ben Hoffmann, Holly Lawrence, Lauren Brandon, Justin Metzler, and more lining up. Canadian Rach McBride, who lives and trains in Boulder, won the women’s pro race in 4:12:53; fellow Canadian Matt Sharpe won the men’s race in his first-ever attempt at the distance, clocking a 3:49:56.
Ironman 70.3 Boulder is also a popular event for age-group athletes, with more than 2,100 athletes lining up for this year’s race.
O+ members can replay the action from Ironman 70.3 Boulder on demand at Outside Watch. Not a member? Become one here.
With a heat index over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the race, many athletes welcomed the news of a new race date for Ironman 70.3 Boulder; starting in 2023, the event will be held in June instead of August. The 2023 race date for Ironman 70.3 Boulder will be Saturday, June 10.
Ironman Alaska
The Northernmost State in the U.S. played host to the inaugural Ironman Alaska triathlon on Sunday, August 7.
Approximately 1,000 athletes from 46 States and 30 countries, regions, and territories traveled to Juneau to be a part of the first-ever Ironman Alaska.
The Ironman Alaska course was laid out for maximum immersion in Alaska’s natural beauty, with a swim course in spring-fed Auke Lake, a bike course that traced the coastline of Juneau, and a run through historic forested trails.
Athletes at Ironman Alaska were welcomed to the finish line by the Tlingit people of southeastern Alaska, who lined the finisher’s chute with drumbeats and song.