Search
shop

Sam Holness completes IRONMAN World Championships in Kona

British triathlete Sam Holness became the first ever openly autistic athlete to complete the IMWC in Kona
Staff Reporter
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

British age-grouper Sam Holness last night made history as he became the first ever openly autistic athlete to complete the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii in a finishing time of 13:05:44.

The 29-year-old from London battled GI issues amongst other things before completing the challenge, following on from his completion of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in St George last year and his first-ever full-distance race at IRONMAN Frankfurt earlier on in 2022.

Advertisement

A pioneering endeavour

Upon completing the race, Holness was understandably delightedf, saying: “This is an epic event. I had some tummy issues today that made it really hard, but I pushed through, and I am so happy to finish.”

sam-holness-kona-2022-finish
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

Out on the run, Holness was hit repeatedly with stomach issues which left him having to stop every few miles to settle his stomach according to coach and dad Tony. However, the Londoner soldiered on and completed Kona on his first attempt. Following the race, Sam said with certainty that “I’m definitely going to come back”.

Tony Holness, who coaches his son, proudly stated after Sam finished that “he’s a Londoner, a pioneer, a trailblazer, and he is going to go for bigger and better things. He is truly amazing, he is my hero!”. Both father and son have a lot to be proud of, and are likely to also use this race as a learning experience for future races.

Sam’s efforts, not just on the race course but also on social media and the internet, where he is at the forefront of the Ambitious about Autism campaign, is changing perceptions on a daily basis for what is possible for autistic athletes.

Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO lens close up
FORM Smart Swim Pro 2 Goggles review: can these high tech goggles actually help you to train smarter and swim faster?
Premium‘The difference from triathlon is so big – there’s no comparison’: Maya Kingma on life in the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
TRIFIT VORTEX tri suit
The small but mighty tri brand you NEED to know about: Why TRI-FIT are on a mission to disrupt the triathlon apparel scene
latest News
Kristian Grue wins Norseman 2025
Norseman 2025: Grue and Skala conquer ‘Zombie Hill’ and the world’s TOUGHEST triathlon
Hayden Wilde happy T100 Singapore 2025
Hayden Wilde – is he BACK for T100 London after injury nightmare?
Sam Laidlow run Roundhay Park IRONMAN Leeds 2025
‘I’m ready for it’ – Sam Laidlow on why triathlon is hitting new heights in 2025 ahead of IRONMAN World Champs
Alistair Brownlee Olympics Triathlon London 2012 Podium Gold
Olympic icon Alistair Brownlee reveals most British thing ever when it comes to fuelling recovery
Lionel Sanders IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2025 celebration finish line
Lionel Sanders provides BIG update on triathlon comeback
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...