There was no shortage of powerful moments at the history-making men’s Ironman World Championship last weekend. Whether it was the stunning new venue in Nice, France, the phenomenal performance of champion Sam Laidlow, or the emotional farewell to triathlon GOAT Jan Frodeno, there’s no doubt we’ll be talking about this race for a long time. We’ve selected the boldest, most captivating, and most candid pictures from the day, captured by Triathlete photographers Brad Kaminski, Tyler Neville, and others.
Vive la France! Visit our Nice Central hub for news, analysis, history, photo galleries, and so much more – new stories added daily from our team on the ground at the men’s 2023 Ironman World Championship.
Jan Frodeno in a tender pre-race moment with his wife and kids before beginning his final race as a professional triathlete.
The first-ever Ironman World Championship not held on U.S. soil begins, backlit by red flares on the beautiful shores of the Cote d’Azur.
As the sun rises over the Mediterannean Sea and the south coast of France, age-group athletes enter the water to be a part of a history-making moment.
A huge group of pro men, led by Jan Frodeno (GER) and Braden Currie (NZL), exit the swim. The large front group out of the swim—a rarity at Ironman World Championships—would play into the race dynamics throughout the day.
American Matthew Marquardt runs up the ramp to T1 after slightly edging out Frodeno and Currie to cross the timing mat first. Behind him are 11 other men in the front pack.
The sun finally crests the “collines” east of the race site in the Baie des Anges as age groupers head through transition on their way to the bike course.
The bike course rolled 25 miles through the French countryside before taking to the Maritime Alps.
Pro Bradley Weiss of South Africa shows evidence of his hard work on the bike as he sweats through his tri suit. Conditions warmed up throughout the day, but never approached Kona-level heat and humidity.
Age-groupers roll through the stunning scenery of the Ironman World Championship course in Nice, France. Racers would have to navigate almost 8,000 feet of elevation gain.
The bike course provided ample opportunity for picture-perfect moments as well as hair-raising descents. Local knowledge proved important as five of the top 10 fastest bike splits of the day were claimed by French men.
An overhead view of the run course along the Promenade des Anglais. The four-loop course was flat, fast, and exposed, but it allowed for crowds to get up close with racers.
American Matt Hanson takes to the run course at the men’s Ironman World Championship in Nice, where he would post the second-fastest run split of the day with a 2:36:29. Hanson would go on to finish 21st overall after a sub-par swim and bike put him out of contention early.
Jan Frodeno cools off at a sprinkler system installed on the run course as fans lining the Promenade des Anglais look on.
Frenchman Sam Laidlow takes the finish-line tape to not only win the first-ever non-U.S.-based Ironman World Championship, but to be the youngest winner and the first from France.
An exhausted Sam Laidlow after his win at the 2023 men’s Ironman World Championship in Nice, France. He would later thank his family and supporters in an emotional post-race interview with Triathlete.
Emma Frodeno (née Snowsill) is embraced by 2014 Ironman World Champion Sebastian Kienle as she wipes away a tear. Moments later, husband, Jan Frodeno would cross the finish line – his final race as a professional triathlete.
In a sign of respect, Frodeno is greeted at his final finish line by fellow Ironman World Champion Patrick Lange (GER), who had the fastest run of the day (2:32:41) to finish second-place overall
.
Frodeno rests with his family after his final race as a professional triathlete. Frodeno finished 24th overall.
An age-grouper dons a cowboy hat for shade on the run course at the all-men’s 2023 Ironman World Championship.
With the sun setting, age-groupers made their way down the run course at the Promenade des Anglais.
Laidlow congratulates an age-group athlete at the finish line of the men’s 2023 Ironman World Championship.
The final finisher gets a hero’s welcome just before the stroke of midnight.