Welcome back Eimear Mullan – IRONMAN 70.3 Xiamen winner

After more than two years of injury, Ireland's Eimear Mullan returned to racing in fine style to win at IRONMAN 70.3 Xiamen in China on Sunday
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

The ‘Green Machine’ is back… and winning

In October 2015, Ireland’s Eimear Mullan broke her own Irish IRONMAN record at IRONMAN Barcelona, when she broke nine-hour mark and crossed the line in 8:56:51. Since that time, Eimear has been all but absent from international competition, dealing with and recovering from long-term injuries – which actually date back as far as May 2015. Now 35, Eimear showed her resilience and determination not to quit and get back to racing this past weekend, when she won IRONMAN 70.3 Xiamen in China.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbY88BqDuVd/?taken-by=eimeartri

At the finish, Eimear took the win by just 12 seconds on what was a pretty much race-long battle with Imogen Simmonds (SUI).

The men’s race was another close battle, with Sam Betten (AUS) just able to sprint away from Justin Metzler (USA), for a winning margin of just 15 seconds.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbYsT5gBwBL/

IRONMAN 70.3 Xiamen – Sunday 12th November 2017
1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

PRO WOMEN

1st – Eimear Mullan (IRL) – 4:14:22
2nd – Imogen Simmonds (SUI) – 4:14:34
3rd – Haley Chura (USA) – 4:18:28
4th – Sarah Cometo (USA) – 4:24:10
5th – Monica Juhart (AUS) – 4:28:19

PRO MEN

1st – Sam Betten (AUS) – 3:53:30
2nd – Justin Metzler (USA) – 3:53:$5
3rd – Jonathan Shearon (USA) – 3:55:01
4th – Felipe Azevedo (UAE) – 3:58:44
5th – Johannes Moldan (GER) – 3:59:23

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Challenge Sardinia location
Let’s race… Challenge Forte Village Sardinia
Are calf sleeves actually worth it for triathletes? How many watts aero calf compression sleeves could save you
Laura Siddall Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon 2023
Are we in a triathlon boom, or hurtling towards burnout? Laura Siddall on the growth of the sport
Is sports nutrition bad for you? Ultra-processed foods are under siege, and athletes are caught in the cross fire – but should we be worried?
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
The ultimate city break triathlon race-cations: from Challenge Barcelona to Singapore T100 these are the best city centre races to combine multisport with sightseeing
latest News
Hayden Wilde joy Qatar T100 Grand Final 2025
Kiwi superstar Hayden Wilde kicks off new season by helping others achieve their goals
Ruth Astle IRONMAN Pro Series 2024
Ruth Astle takes triathlon break as she prepares for new challenges of Brownlee events role and gravel cycling
British triathlete Lucy Byram has been recognised by her fellow athletes after she battled back from the heartbreak of her partner's death.
T100 family shows its love and support once again as Lucy Byram voted Athletes’ Athlete of the Year
IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea 2024 - Harry Palmer wins
‘B-tier’ podcast duo aiming to inform and entertain as they look to challenge ‘GOAT’ Jan Frodeno in the triathlon podcast charts
Matthew Marquardt wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
Matthew Marquardt calls for season-long IRONMAN trial of extended draft zone – based on medical reasoning
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
247 Endurance

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.

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£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

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£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...