Taylor Knibb won her first Hawaiian Ironman world title after a sudden change near the end of the marathon. Defending champion Solveig Løvseth had led by more than a minute with roughly a mile remaining before losing stability and collapsing.
Knibb passed the Norwegian about a kilometre from the finish. Løvseth later resumed and placed eighth. The incident recalled the famous 1995 finish in which Karen Smyers overtook Paula Newby-Fraser close to the line.
Smyers helped hold the finishing tape for Knibb on this occasion. In the men’s event, France’s Vincent Luis won at thirty-seven on his debut in Hawaii, adding a long-distance title to a career that already included world-series success and an Olympic mixed-relay medal.
