Ben Kanute has shown he’s got what it takes to contend against the best and put in season after season of racing. Success on the IRONMAN World Championship stage might have eluded him so far, but a strong resume of 70.3 and full Iron distance podium finishes alongside a 2nd place at the 2022 70.3 Worlds shows the American has all the right ingredients for successs.

Kanute was bitten by the triathlon bug at the age of just seven after watching his father Mike compete. He initially emerged as an Olympic-distance triathlete and finished 29th at the Rio Games in 2016 before stepping up in distance the following year. He missed out on securing a place in the Mixed Relay team for the Tokyo Olympics, and has kept his focus on longer distance racing since.

Born in December 1992, the University of Arizona graduate had a promising junior career which saw him crowned elite national champion in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Kanute’s early achievements continued with a National Collegiate title in 2012 and a USA sprint triathlon title two years later.

Following his Olympic debut, Ben showed he had the stamina to step up in distance during a breakthrough 2017 season. Having finished third in his first IRONMAN 70.3 race in Puerto Rico, Kanute took a hugely impressive second place at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship that year.

Career record and results

Kanute has several top 10 finishes at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, including two silver medals. But he has yet to climb to the top step of the podium in the biggest middle-distance race of the year.

With victories in the smaller Escape from Alcatraz and Island House events, 2017 proved a highly promising one for Kanute, and the following year he retained his Alcatraz title and recorded his first IRONMAN 70.3 victory, triumphing in Texas.

Fourth at the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, Ben was beaten by three all-time greats in Jan Frodeno, Alistair Brownlee and the aforementioned Gomez, in a race widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time.

Kanute secured a second IRONMAN 70.3 title in California in 2019, pipping compatriot Rudy Von Berg in a thriller by just 12 seconds. He added sixth at IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain and 10th at the 70.3 World Championship in Nice after a disappointing run which saw him record only the 34th fastest split.

Kanute was restricted to just three races due to COVID-19 in 2020, including 20th place at the PTO 2020 Championship in Daytona, as his ranking dipped to 47th. But he would bounce back in style in 2021.

He registered another victory at IRONMAN 70.3 California, posting top-three splits in all three disciplines. Kanute was second at IRONMAN 70.3 Texas, third at Challenge Miami (02:31:44) and posted the fourth fastest time of the day at the Collins Cup. Kanute capped a strong year with sixth place at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in St George.

In 2022, the American built on his great year in 2021 alongside Coach Jim Vance to establish himself as a real contender in middle distance racing, as he finished third at Clash Miami before taking a remarkable second place behind Kristian Blummenfelt at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships.

Kanute also made his IRONMAN debut in 2022, finishing third at IRONMAN Arizona in 7:51 to secure his slot at the IRONMAN World Championships (though he deferred that spot to the 2024 race in Nice). His 2023 race schedule saw a smattering of disappointing results, including 30th at 70.3 worlds. But a 3rd place at Challenge Roth kept him in focus as a strong contender.

2024 was once again an up and down year, with 3 DNFs on the T100 circuit. 2nd place finishes at 70.3 Mont Tremblant and Michigan would have taken the edge off. But 31st place in Kona wouldn’t have been what the US athlete was aiming for. There was to be more disappointment in 2025 including finishing 26th at 70.3 worlds, but a 3rd place finish at IRONMAN Arizona at the end of the year is a sign to never count Kanute out.

Ben Kanute and family

Ben’s father Mike Kanute was also a triathlete, as well as a golfer, and Ben’s whole family have been involved in the sport.

Ben Kanute gear

Ben Kanute rides a Trek Speed Concept bike, with Bontrager Aeolus XXX 6 TLR wheels and SRAM Etap components. He wears a Rudy Project Wing TT helmet and Bontrager XXX Road Shoes.

Kanute wears Santini Viper tri suits, deboer wetsuits and Magic5 goggles. He runs in Hoka Rocket X shoes.