Search
shop

New Zealand delivers as Taupo wows superstar triathletes with incredible IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship

Editor-In-Chief
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Taupō waited four long years to get its moment in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship sun, and it was absolutely worth the wait.

Thanks to the COVID pandemic, the New Zealand community did not become the global focus of world triathlon until last weekend, but all the predictions were right. It is a town in love with the sport, with a true passion for swim/bike/run.

On Sunday we almost got the perfect end to a spectacular weekend as local boy Hayden Wilde agonisingly missed out on victory before giving best to Jelle Geens in a thrilling race for Pro Men.

Twenty-four hours before that the two superstars that are Taylor Knibb and Kat Matthews delivered another absolute blockbuster as they came home first and second in a thriller for Pro Women.

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Finish Line Kat Matthews Taylor Knibb
Second-place Kat Matthews congratulates 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Taylor Knibb (Photo – Fiona Goodall, Getty Images for IRONMAN).
Advertisement

Knibb and Matthews on Taupo love

Afterwards both Taylor and Kat both spoke glowingly about their Taupō experience – one which combined an area with stunning beauty and fantastic support for this event.

Knibb said: “The run course was amazing. There was no one on the bike course, but everyone was on the run course. I don’t think there was a step on the course where you didn’t have people supporting you and cheering. It was like, wow. This was such an impressive community, so thank you to everyone that was out there and supporting.

“I’m very tired and it’s very hot, it is a bit of a relief, but I am also very grateful. I think it is really cool that each of my [IRONMAN] 70.3 wins has been in drastically different courses on a different continent. Thank you, it’s such a great community here and I always forget how much I love IRONMAN races.”

Kat, who also claimed top spot in the 2024 IRONMAN Pro Series, was even more glowing in her praise for the venue, revealing: “Honestly, best course I’ve raced all year. The spectators, the crowd, literally from the first step out of the swim to the last on the run, it was incredible. Thank you.” 

Local star Berry full of emotion

The day was arguable even more special for another local star in the shape of Hannah Berry, who finished 14th in the race and claimed fourth spot in those IRONMAN Pro Series standings.

She exclaimed: “What a day. So many emotions, the crowd out there was so unbelievable, the support, the cheering, it was like nothing I’ve ever witnessed before so just a huge thank you to all the supporters out there. It was a really hard day but I’m actually really happy with that,” said Berry. 

“I had a feeling it was going to be pretty crazy out there with the support, but I’ve never had support like that before, it was incredible. It was kind of overwhelming to try and keep within myself and concentrate on what I was doing because the crowd was incredible,” she said. “What a day, it’s been amazing. Something I will remember for the rest of my life. A World Championship at home, just incredible.” 

Graham Shaw
Written by
Graham Shaw
Graham has been involved with TRI247 & RUN247 since the summer of 2021. Since then he has provided strategic direction for all news and is passionate about the growth of triathlon as a fan sport.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
Alistair Brownlee - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
Olympic triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee completes iconic Gralloch race in latest gravel test
Jeanne Lehair Beth Potter WTCS Yokohama 2025
From Olympic heartbreak to joy of first WTCS win as emotions flow for Jeanne Lehair
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

Share to...